Ashraf Mir chairs Estimates Committee meeting

Calls for expediting pace of work on development projects

            SRINAGAR, JULY 12:- To review the functioning of R&B Department, a meeting of Estimate Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held here today under the Chairmanship of  Mohammad Ashraf Mir.

Legislators, Mr. Mubarak Gul, Abdul Majeed Padder, Yawar Ahmad Mir, and Dr. Shenaz Ganai were also present in the meeting.

          Taking detailed review of the activities of the Department, the Committee got first hand appraisal of financial and physical achievements registered scheme-wise and project-wise. It also sought detailed status of ongoing projects being executed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz; PMGSY, CAF and NABARD in the state.

          Calling for expediting pace of work for timely completion of works, the Committee directed the concerned to constitute a Committee of officers to monitor the progress  of work   ensuring use of quality  material in the execution of developmental works.       

The Committee also reviewed the pace of progress on Ramanagar-Dudu-Basantgarh-Latti Road, widening of Patnitop-Sanasar road, Alternate bridge near Abdullah Bridge Rajouri, Patti Mahal Dachan road, approach road to New Degree College Ramban, approach road and bridge to Railway Station Banihal. It also reviewed   status of  Chenani-Sudh Mahadev -Goha road, Ramban-Banihal road, Banihal-Qazigund tunnel,  and Jammu Akhnoor Poonch road,  Srinagar-Shopian -Qazigund road and Kargil-Zanaskar road.

The meeting was informed that the Union Government under PMGSY programme has  sanctioned  2580 schemes at an estimated cost of Rs.8328.46 Crore under Phase-X and an amount of Rs. 3568.15 Crore stands utilized against  released amount of Rs.3901.34 Crore. As many as 1425 schemes have been completed   by constructing total road length of 7334 Kms covering 1907 habitations so far, the meeting was informed.

            Under NABARD IDF-XII TO XX, 1262 schemes  amounting to Rs. Rs.3216.36 crore were sanctioned, of which 517 schemes have been completed by spending  Rs. 358.32 crore up to March 2016, the meeting was informed.

          The meeting was informed that work on 322 bridges was taken up with an estimated cost of Rs. Rs.925.39 Crore on which Rs. Rs.347.03 Crore stand expended so far and the work on 20 bridges is expected to be completed   during this fiscal. An Action Plan of Rs. 234 Crore for improvement and up-gradation of roads in cities & towns has been approved during 2015-16, the meeting was informed.

          Under Special Task Force,   8 projects were taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.  77.10 Crore,  of which 4 projects stand completed by utilizing Rs. 67.78 crore.

          The meeting was informed that under R&B sector an amount of Rs.42668 Crore has been sanctioned under Prime Minister's Development Package which includes Rs.20858 Crore for construction of  National Highways , Rs. 14090 Crore  for construction tunnels, Rs.3260 Crore for ring roads and of Rs.4464 Crore for other developmental projects.

          The meeting was formed that 5 Tunnels projects are being executed in the state which will provide all weather road connectivity and lessen the distance. These include Z- Morh tunnel, Zojila Tunnel, Sudh –Mahadev- Goha tunnel, Singhpora tunnel and Mugal Road Tunnel.

          Earlier, giving brief account about of the activities of the department, Commissioner Secretary R&B Sanjeev Verma  informed the Committee about the financial and physical achievements registered  Scheme-wise and project-wise.

Among others, Chief Engineer, PMGSY, S P Manhas, Chief Engineer, R&B Jammu Sudheer Shah, Chief Engineer, Mughal Road P L Bhushan, Chief Engineer, MED Kashmir Vijay Raina, Chief Engineer DIQC Rajeev Malhotra,  Managing Director, JKPCC Daleep   Thussu, Director Planning (PWD) Tariq Ahmad, besides SEs and XENs of R&B department and allied wings  attended the meeting.