UDHAMPUR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday directed officials to expedite the ongoing road and bridge projects in Udhampur district, setting December 20, 2026, as the deadline for completion of the road project from Jakhani Naka Point via Lower Balli.
During his visit to the district, Choudhary inspected the Public Works Department (PWD) road project being executed under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) scheme and expressed concern over the slow pace of work.
He directed the executing agencies to deploy adequate manpower and machinery and instructed the Superintending Engineer to closely monitor progress and ensure compliance with prescribed quality standards. He also asked the Executive Engineer, PWD, to issue a show-cause notice to the contractor over the delay.
The Deputy Chief Minister also inspected the construction of the 165-metre-span steel girder double-lane motorable Salmay Bridge over the Tawi River on the Udhampur-Ghordi road, being built under NABARD.
He directed the executing agencies to accelerate construction, mobilise additional resources and complete the project within the stipulated timeline without compromising on quality. He also stressed the need to adopt double-shift operations wherever necessary to speed up developmental works.
Choudhary was accompanied by Chief Engineer, PWD R&B, Chenab Zone, Batote, Ashok Kumar Khokhar; Superintending Engineer, PWD R&B Circle Udhampur-Ramban, Shivangi Gupta; Assistant Commissioner Revenue Dr Umesh Shan and other officers.
During the tour, the Deputy Chief Minister also visited Government Girls Middle School, Sharda, where he checked the attendance register of teaching staff and enquired about the sanctioned strength of teachers and available infrastructure.
He interacted with students and teachers, encouraging students to remain focused on their studies, work hard and strive to achieve their goals.
Later, Choudhary visited Sharda Mata Temple and paid obeisance, praying for peace, prosperity and the well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
