UDHAMPUR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, today called for safety alignment construction at the Kaghoti Ramnagar accident site after a detailed inspection of the spot.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life in the recent bus accident, the Deputy Chief Minister called for immediate road safety measures and a comprehensive safety audit of concrete parapets and protective walls along the 13-kilometre-long Udhampur-Ramnagar stretch.
“We have lost many innocent lives in the unfortunate accident; however, responsibility shall be fixed on it,” he said.
The concerned Chief Engineer was instructed to prepare a plan after due consultation with the consultancy and ensure that the measures are enforced to prevent such tragic mishaps in the future.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who conducted an extensive tour to assess the progress of ongoing infrastructure works across Udhampur District, stressed strict adherence to quality standards, timely completion, and accountability at all levels.
He inspected the under-construction PWD Dak Bungalow at Udhampur and emphasised the timely completion of the renovation works. He directed the officials to ensure that all the work is completed by May 2026.
As part of the day-long tour, the Deputy Chief Minister also inspected several key road and bridge projects across the district, including Majalta Bridge, Doder Nallah Gudar Bridge and the Dhana–Bunal road.
He directed the concerned to expedite the pace of work while maintaining the highest quality standards to ensure timely completion.
Additionally, he reviewed the ongoing permanent protection works along the Sidra–Suransar–Mansar road, emphasising durable and resilient construction at all flood-affected stretches.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to robust infrastructure development, the Deputy Chief Minister called for strict adherence to the set guidelines and quality benchmarks across all projects. He asserted that accountability must be ensured for any lapses, warning that action, including blacklisting of contractors, would be considered in cases of substandard work.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government remains focused on strengthening the infrastructure, enhancing road safety and ensuring sustainable development across Jammu and Kashmir.
During the visit, the Deputy Chief Minister also carried out surprise inspections of local stone crushers and macadam plants at Birma Pull, directing the officials to ensure strict compliance with the mining norms. He warned that any laxity would be dealt with strictly as per the rules.
He also assessed the ongoing mining operations and asked for ensuring strict ban on illegal mining operations.
Chief Engineer PMGSY, Purshotam Kumar, Chief Engineer DIQC Atul Bali, SDM Ramnagar, SDPO, SEs, Tehsildars, Executive Engineers and other concerned officers accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister during the daylong tour.
