Srinagar: With nearly two-week long unrest forcing suspension of developmental works, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today called for an effective mechanism for timely completion of the ongoing projects.
“There is a need for devising an effective mechanism which binds contractors to delivering the projects on time, as the state government cannot afford any spill-over of externally-aided projects funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the State Plan, if they stretch beyond March 31, 2017,” Mehbooba said while chairing a high-level meeting to review the progress of projects being executed by the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (JKERA) here.
She asked the agency to strictly adhere to fixed timelines and monitor the pace of work on a fortnightly basis.
“ERA should mobilise men and machinery to ensure that there is no delay in commissioning of the projects within fixed timelines,” she added.
Urging ERA to broaden the scope of its activities, Mehbooba said the ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ was created with the primary objective to fast-track urban infrastructure projects for creation of durable assets as well as becoming a model for other executing agencies in successfully implementing the externally aided infrastructure projects.
“Given the limited financial resources available, it will be difficult for the state government to take over ongoing ADB projects if they are not completed within the stipulated timeframes. The Planning Department will monitor the ongoing works on fortnightly basis to ensure that there is no further delay,” Mehbooba, who is also the chairperson of ERA, said.
The Chief Minister was informed the metro projects would be taken up in Srinagar and Jammu under multilateral funding from Japanese Official Developmental Assistance (JODA) as part of rapid transit proposed by reputed development consultancy RITES.
“It was decided in the meeting that the Housing and Urban Development Department will act as the nodal department for firming up the metro projects for two capital cities in consultation with the RITES,” an official spokesman said.
“Some of the prestigious projects reviewed by the Chief Minister included Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Expressway Corridor in Srinagar, Bikram Chowk Flyover at Jammu, Landfill Site at Achan Srinagar, 30 MLD Sewerage Treatment Plant at Jammu, construction of OHTs and replacement of worn-out PHE pipes both at Srinagar and Jammu, besides projects relating to sewerage and drainage and capacity building of sectors like H&UD and PHE departments as well as equipment for delivery mechanism under municipal functions,” the spokesman said.
On current status of work on flyovers in the two capital cities, for which an amount of Rs 385 crore have been sanctioned, the meeting was informed that ERA is expediting the pace of work so that these are positively completed by March, 2017.