JAMMU: Minister for Roads and Broadcasting (R&B), Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has asked the authorities of Revenue, R&B, Forest and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to settle all the land compensation issues within 10 days and handover the land to the executing agencies for timely completion of prestigious 4-laning of Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
He asked them to keep close liaison with each other to check that no structure is constructed within the fixed distance on newly constructed highway.
He also asked the authorities of R&B and Revenue to demolish all those structures constructed in violation of norms. He said no cabling should be allowed on the roads without proper permission of the R&B department.
The directions were passed by the Minister while reviewing the progress of the 4-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at 2nd meeting of the High Level Coordination Committee, constituted by government recently, here this afternoon.
Minister of State for R&B, Revenue, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Commissioner Secretary, R&B, Divisional Commissioners, Kashmir/Jammu, Secretary Forest, Secretary Revenue, Secretary (Tech) R&B, Director, NHAI, Chief Engineer, BRO, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Ramban, Udhampur besides senior officers from Revenue, Forest, project SAMPARK were present on the occasion.
The Minister asked the authorities of NHAI to ensure that the Jammu-Srinagar lifeline will not be affected while implementing the project. He said old roads are often damaged while starting work on new section of highway and asked the concerned authorities to make sure that old roads are repaired and maintained simultaneously.
Syed Altaf said the work on the project was affected in the past due to strikes observed by workers and asked the authorities to take care of the interests of this section of people besides ensure that maximum locals are engaged in the projects for over all benefit of executing agency and people. He asked them to get trained local work force in a particular trade rather getting from other parts of the country. Sending a strong message to the contractors, he said they should do their job honestly and professionally in the best interest of people and growth of their business units..
R&B Minister said that easing problems of the people, especially during winter monthsis priority of the Government. He asked officers to keep close coordination and resolve the public problems immediately after noticing it from any quarter. He said forest clearance is the major hurdle in the road projects and asked the concerned to find out alternative without breaching the law of land.
Sunil Kumar Sharma said that development process should not stop for a petty issue and asked officers to settle these personally with the locals. Underlining need for judicious utilization of funds meant for road project, he said areas having less road connectivity need to be prioritized.
The meeting was informed that 81 percent work on Chinani-Nashri tunnel has been completed and is targeted to be fully completed by May 2016.
Regarding Qazigund-Banihal section of the road, the meeting was told that 48 percent of work has been completed so far including work on 8.50 km tunnel while 50 percent work on Banihal-Srinagar section stands completed so far, it was added. The Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag was asked to resolve tree compensation issue of Ujroo village and ensure that land is handed over to the executing agencies early for taking forward work on the project.
Regarding Udhampur-Chinani section of the project, it was informed that work on the project has been started and is targeted to be completed by December 2018. 106 structures are required to be demolished on Udhampur-Chinanai while 228 structures on Nashri-Ramban portion of the project, the meeting was told. Rs 2168 crore have been earmarked for Ramban-Banihal stretch having 6 major and 21 medium bridges and 152 culverts the meeting was told.
On Jammu-Udhampur section, 1962 kanal of land, coming in the project, stands handed over to the executing agencies, the Minister was told.
Z-Marh tunnel on Sringar-Sonamarg road besides Zojla tunnel, Sadhna pass tunnel and Razdan tunnel also came up for the discussion. It was informed that Rs. 2580 crore have been approved by the Central for Z-Morh tunnel and is expected to be completed by April 2020. The meeting also reviewed the progress of the roads and other projects being executed by BRO besides snow clearance plans.
Earlier, Secretary (Technical) Bimal Tickoo, who is also secretary of HLC gave brief about the working of the Committee.
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