Directs for completion of all major Mughal road bridges by May this year
JAMMU: Cracking Whip on construction executing agencies working in the state to complete the projects within the scheduled time frame, the Minister for Roads and Buildings Mr. Abdul Majid Wani today said that cost overrun due to un-due and un-necessary delays in works shall have to be their exclusive liability.
Reviewing pace of progress on prestigious Rs 640 crore Mughal road project at a high level meeting of the officers and engineers, Mr. Wani on Thursday asked the executing agencies to stick to the targeted time frame for completion of various development works as delays result in escalation in the project costs besides loading un-seen additional burden on the state exchequer. He asked the concerned engineers and executing agencies working of the Mughal road project to complete all the seven major bridges by the end of May this year so that the cherished dream of fully re-opening of this historic road project comes true, adding that Rs 55.75 crore have already been earmarked for construction of these vital major bridges. He also directed the engineers to prepare a comprehensive project report for construction of a 7 kms long underground tunnel across Pir-Ki-Gali in between Zaznar to Chata Pani road stretch, which is the heaviest snow belt in the road, so that it can be made a round the year all weather alternate Highway to Srinagar.
The Commissioner Secretary PWD (R&B) Mrs. Tanveer Jehan, Chief Engineer, Mughal Road Project, Mr. B. L. Tickoo, Chief Engineers, Mechanical Engineering, stores and Procurement, Mr. R. K. Handoo, concerned SEs and Executives engineers were present in the meeting.
Mr. Wani said that construction of the Mughal road is a big turnaround in the socio-economic emancipation of the twin borders districts of Poonch and Rajouri besides giving boost to the tourism activities in the area. He said all the efforts will be made to include this prestigious road from Bufliaz up to Pampore as a National Highway Project as it qualifies all required specifications and is ideally fit for it. He instructed the engineers to put in to use latest technologies for treatment of the avalanches and soil erosion prone stretches of the Mughal road, after conducting its geological studies. In this connection, he referred to hydro seeding and rock belting, which are scientific soil stabilization technologies in vogue, at the present world over. Adding that safety of road users can not be compromised at any cost.
The Minister was informed that construction of Mughal road has reduced the travel from Poonch to Srinagar to 590 kms only 175 kms whereas travel duration from Rajouri to Srinagar has been reduced from 455 kms to only 200 kms.
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