Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday distributed appointment letters to 17 candidates appointed in the Public Works Department at the civil secretariat here.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Additional Chief Secretary, PWD, Anil Kumar Singh, and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Congratulating the appointees, the chief minister urged them to discharge their duties with dedication, sincerity and a sense of responsibility, while contributing to the department’s functioning and the development of Jammu and Kashmir.
The appointees include eight supervisors and eight multi-tasking staff (MTS) appointed under the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme, while one candidate was appointed under SRO-43.
Meanwhile, CM inspected the under-construction Legislative Assembly complex here, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary saying the 2028 budget session is likely to be held in the new building.
Abdullah, accompanied by Choudhary, Additional Chief Secretary Public Works Department, Anil Kumar Singh and other officials, visited the complex near the Civil Secretariat and inspected its halls, rooms and other facilities, officials said.
He reviewed the progress of the construction work with senior officials and impressed upon them to ensure its timely completion, they said.
“The chief minister today inspected the progress of construction work on the new Legislative Assembly Complex in Jammu, reviewing the pace of execution and emphasising its time-bound completion,” Office of the Chief Minister said in a post on X.
The six-level complex will house a modern Assembly Hall, Central Hall, visitor and press galleries, committee rooms and advanced building management systems.
“The long-delayed project was revived following revised administrative approval accorded by the present government in 2025, paving the way for its completion”, it said.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister directed all concerned departments and executing agencies to ensure close coordination, expeditious execution and strict adherence to the stipulated completion timeline.
Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said the project was expected to be completed by October 2027, as informed by the officials concerned.
“If the Almighty wishes, the 2028 budget session will be held in this very hall, and the next budget will be presented here,” he said.
The deputy chief minister said the new complex would provide better facilities and comfortable seating arrangements for media persons, who often face difficulties while covering proceedings at the existing premises.
He urged everyone to wait until next year for the completion of the project.
