Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Cracking whip on construction companies working in the State to complete the projects within the scheduled time frame, the Minister for Roads and Buildings Abdul Majid Wani today said that cost over-run due to un-due and un-necessary delays in works will have to be their exclusive liability.
Reviewing pace of progress on prestigious Rs 640 crore Mughal road project at a high level meeting of the officers and engineers, Mr. Wani asked the executing agencies to stick to the targeted time frame for completion of various development works as delays result in escalation in the project costs besides loading un-seen additional burden on the State exchequer.
He asked the concerned engineers and executing agencies working on the Mughal road project to complete all the seven major bridges by the end of May this year so that the cherished dream of fully re-opening of this historic road project comes true, adding that Rs 55.75 crore have already been earmarked for construction of these vital major bridges.
He also directed the engineers to prepare a comprehensive project report for construction of a 7 kms long underground tunnel across Pir-Ki-Gali in between Zaznar to Chata Pani road stretch, which is the heaviest snow belt in the road, so that it can be made all weather alternate Highway to Srinagar.
The Commissioner Secretary PWD (R&B) Tanveer Jehan, Chief Engineer, Mughal Road Project, B. L. Tickoo, Chief Engineers, Mechanical Engineering, stores and Procurement, R. K. Handoo, concerned SEs and Executives Engineers were present in the meeting.
Mr. Wani said that construction of the Mughal road is a big turn around in the socio-economic emancipation of the twin borders districts of Poonch and Rajouri besides giving boost to the tourism activities in the area. He said all the efforts will be made to include this prestigious road from Bufliaz up to Pampore as a National Highway Project as it qualifies all required specifications and is ideally fit for it.
He instructed the engineers to put in to use latest technologies for treatment of the avalanches and soil erosion prone stretches of the Mughal road, after conducting its geological studies.
The Minister asked the engineers and officers to work in unison in a team spirit and missionary zeal to redress the grievances of the people, adding that only those engineers will be promoted to higher posts whose performance will be up to the mark.
While paying tributes to the brave engineers, who have achieved martyrdoms while constructing major road projects in the State, Mr. Wani said it was our prime duty to take care of their children and advised the concerned officers and engineers to vigorously follow compassionate appointment cases of their wards.
While reviewing functioning of the Mechanical Engineering, Stores and Procurement Departments, Mr. Wani asked the concerned engineers to focus on modernization of their machinery, adding that the department should always be in a state of readiness to meet any eventuality in case of natural calamities including snow, landslide and avalanches clearance operations.
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