SRINAGAR: The Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, today chaired a comprehensive review of the various major infrastructural projects in J&K and exhorted the executing agencies to speed up the execution to complete the projects within the timelines.
He said time overruns invariably lead to cost overruns and adverse impacts on the UT finances.
Dr Mehta said that most of the delays in the projects can be avoided if the departments and executing agencies stop working in silos and develop a collaborative spirit.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Administrative Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, CEO, ERA, Chief Engineers of the executing agencies, Managing Director, SIDCO and other officers of the concerned Departments and executing agencies.
Earlier, the Chief Engineer, CPWD, Jammu, PK Dixit informed that works on AIIMS Jammu are going on smoothly and the project will be completed by September 2023.
The Chief Secretary directed for immediate commencement of work on the underpass to connect the campuses of AIIMS Jammu on either side of the Jammu -Kathua highway in consultation with PWD (R&B) and NHAI.
Dr Mehta further directed for expediting equipment procurement for AIIMS Jammu and asked the department to ensure that AIIMS Jammu is fully functional by September 2023.
Chief Engineer CPWD Kashmir, Dr Shishir Bansal said that all issues involved in the construction of AIIMS Awantipora stand resolved and the project will be fully completed by 31st March, 2023.
While directing for speeding up execution of work, Dr Mehta directed the department to ensure that the classes for first year MBBS students are started in AIIMS Awantipora from December 2022.
It was informed that most of the buildings of the Government Medical College Anantnag have been constructed and handed over to the department.
The Chief Secretary directed the executing agency to expedite the construction of GMC Anantnag and hand it over in fully functional state to the Health & Medical Education Department by end of June 2022.
Giving the update on the construction of GMC, Baramulla, MD, JK PCC, R K Shavan said that the project was delayed due to delay in getting NoC from the Army authorities, but as the same now stands received, the work will be expedited and the construction work finished by June end.
The Chief Secretary directed to hand over the Medical College Baramulla to the H&ME department by July end.
It was further informed that works on GMC, Kathua, will be completed in June 2022 while construction work on the Medical Colleges in Rajouri and Doda will be completed by June end and August end this year respectively.
Dr Mehta directed the department to ensure that equipment procurement for these colleges is made in parallel so that the delays in procuring equipment subsequently are avoided and the projects are up and running as soon as all construction works are completed.
It was informed that a 500 -bedded children’s hospital at Bemina has been constructed and shall be handed over to the department shortly.
Giving details of the implementation of an additional gynaecological block at Lal Ded hospital, MD JKPCC informed that foundation design proof check has been completed in consultation with IIT Delhi and decks are now cleared for starting work. He said the work on the project will be completed in the next 15 months.
Dr Mehta directed for increasing the pace of work of construction of bone and joint hospital and asked the department to ensure that it is fully completed by 31st July 2022.
It was further informed that most of the works in State Cancer Institute at Jammu have been completed and the project will be handed over to the department by August 2022.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to immediately prepare an equipment procurement plan for the Cancer Institute so that its functionality is ensured as soon as it is fully constructed.
Dr Mehta directed that works on Bone and Joint hospital should be expedited and the hospital handed over to the department by August 2022.
Giving details of the progress made in the execution of drainage plan for Srinagar, CEO, ERA, Dr Syed Abid Rashid informed that 96% work on the project has been completed and the project will be fully completed by the end of June 2022.
MD SIDCO, Smitha Sethi informed that the National Institute of Fashion Technology is being established at an estimated cost of Rs. 237.05 cr at Budgam, Kashmir.
She said that around 80% progress has been made in the establishment of NIFT at Srinagar. It was further informed that packages 1 and 3 have been completed while works in package 2 are being speeded up. She said the project will be completed by July 2022.
Dr Mehta directed MD, SIDCO to ensure that packages 1 and 3 are completed by June end and the constructed buildings handed over to the department so that classes for two new courses, namely, Masters in Fashion Management and Bachelors in Accessories Designs can commence in the Institute from July this year.
MD JKPCC informed that a consultant has been engaged for the balance work involved in the construction of the assembly complex and tenders will be floated by the end of June 2022.
Dr Mehta directed for preparing a separation plan for the old and new assembly complexes besides taking measures for redoing/renovating the old assembly complex consistent with its existing architectural design.
