Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday set the target of 8000 km of road length for black topping by the Public Works (R&B) during a meeting he chaired for reviewing the functioning of the department here.
According to an official press release, the meeting was informed that 3167 kms of new roads have been built under 272 schemes in 2020-21 as compared to previous five years’ average of 1450 kms.
“Reach out to the unconnected habitations with road connectivity. Put concerted efforts to strengthen and expand the intra-UT road network, especially in rural and remote areas so that the population living in these areas can be extended all basic amenities for leading a quality life,” the LG asked the PWD officials.
While seeking the present status of the physical health of the old infrastructure, the LG directed the concerned officials to implement report of safety audit of bridges in letter and spirit and instructed them to prioritize work on bridges that need immediate repairs.
Emphasizing on keeping a regular watch on the work progress, the LG passed specific directions for regular on-ground visits of the field officers for ensuring quality and constant monitoring of the infrastructure, and submission of the progress report on a regular basis, with special focus on road projects.
“People have high expectations from the government. It is important to address their developmental needs by taking concerted measures in this direction,” the LG observed.
He asked the officials to explore all possibilities to lay down a comprehensive mechanism to bring uniformity in tendering, quality control, inspection, and monitoring process.
The LG also issued clear-cut directions for completion of projects hanging in for long.
While reviewing the achievements of the last six years, the LG complimented the efforts put in by the concerned officers for completing 3167 kms of new road length in 2020-21, which is more than double as compared to the length covered in previous five years, the press release informed.
On being informed about the target set by the PWD(R&B) for covering around 4200 km road under PMGSY I&II connecting 191 habitations, besides completing 237 languishing projects this year, the LG advised the officials for pooling of resources and opting for convergence mode for better outcome and speedy execution of projects.
Under Pot-hole Free Road programme this year, the department aims to make 6000 km road length free of pot-holes, the meeting was informed.
For maintaining transparency and accountability in the working of the department, the LG asked the concerned functionaries to put the working in public domain so that people can have easy access to all the relevant information. He also called for developing a mechanism for providing right information to the public with the factual position of the projects.
On enquiring about the health infrastructural development being taken place in the UT, the LG was informed that the department is aiming at completing as many as 74 projects by the end of this year. The officials were also directed for ensuring effective utilization of installed oxygen plants.
He directed the concerned officials to expedite the pace of work on all projects taken up by the department under various schemes for their timely completion, besides taking all requisite measures to remove the bottlenecks, if any, to achieve the target within fixed timelines.
The LG also sought a detailed report of schemes yet to be completed, besides work status of schools and colleges undertaken by JKPCC and directed for their completion in a time-bound manner.
During the review meeting, Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works (R&B) department gave a detailed briefing about the targets and achievements under various schemes for construction, improvement/upgradation of roads and bridges, for providing connectivity with special focus on rural areas viz. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), Bridge Programme, Central Road & Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), NABARD, Road Sector, Cities & Towns (Macdamization), Languishing Projects, Pothole Free Road Programme, NHAI/NHIDCL/BRO, and other departmental works.
