Srinagar: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of ongoing Public Works Department (PWD) projects being executed across Jammu and Kashmir, directing officials to ensure timely completion with strict adherence to quality standards.
While reviewing the division-wise status of works, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed officers to complete projects under Roads & Buildings (R&B), PMGSY, Cities and Towns, potholes, Mechanical and NABARD sectors within stipulated timelines. He stressed zero tolerance for delays, spillovers, lapses or compromise on quality.
Emphasizing efficiency and accountability, Choudhary called for strict adherence to execution timelines in all PWD works, including those related to the health and education sectors. He warned that contractors responsible for undue delays would face strict action. He also directed expediting renovation and upgradation works of PWD Guest Houses, ensuring their completion within set deadlines, and stressed timely blacktopping works across Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the need for faster implementation of major infrastructure projects, the Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to take up major road projects under SASCI for their smooth and prompt initiation.
He reviewed progress under multiple sectors, including R&B, PMGSY, Cities & Towns, CRIF, RIDF, pothole repairs and other infrastructure components. He instructed senior officers, including Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers, to conduct regular site visits to maintain quality and pace of work.
During the meeting, Choudhary underscored strict adherence to quality benchmarks in all ongoing and upcoming projects, asserting that there would be no tolerance for substandard execution, delays or administrative lapses. “There is no room for quality compromise. Accountability must be visible at every level,” he said, directing officers to ensure close supervision and timely completion.
He also emphasized the need for expeditious resolution of land, forest and compensation-related issues to avoid project delays. He directed that bar charts be prominently displayed at all project sites to facilitate monitoring of progress.
The Deputy Chief Minister specifically called for acceleration of work on key infrastructure projects, including Ramban Bridge, Majalta Bridge, PWD Guest House Udhampur, New Assembly Complex Jammu, Pragwal–Inderpati Bridge, PWD Guest House Hyderpora and Boulevard Road, among other major road and bridge projects across Jammu and Kashmir.
He further directed the removal of bottlenecks hindering road widening projects and stressed that all procedural requirements, including technical sanctions, tendering and allotments, be completed in the shortest possible time to ensure timely execution.
Choudhary also directed officials to submit a detailed report on the Ramnagar accident and instructed immediate replacement of poorly constructed parapets at identified locations to enhance public safety.
The meeting was attended by Chief Engineers, Director Finance, Planning officials, Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers from all engineering wings of Jammu and Kashmir.
