Srinagar, May 5:
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary chaired a high-level review meeting today to assess the progress of ongoing Public Works Department (PWD) projects across Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking a tough stance on administrative laxity, the Deputy Chief Minister directed officers to ensure the timely completion of crucial infrastructure projects under the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department, PMGSY, NABARD, and mechanical divisions, warning that delays, spill-overs, or lapses in quality standards will not be tolerated.
Strict Quality Benchmarks and “Bar Charts” at Sites
During the comprehensive division-wise review, Deputy CM Choudhary emphasized that contractors causing undue delays in public projects—especially those related to vital sectors like health and education—would face strict punitive action.
To bring transparency and active monitoring to the ground level, the Deputy CM issued a series of directives:
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Progress Tracking: Bar charts must be prominently displayed at all project sites to visually monitor and track construction progress.
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Ground Supervision: Superintending Engineers (SEs) and Executive Engineers (Xen) have been instructed to conduct regular site visits to ensure adherence to strict quality benchmarks.
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Procedural Speed: All technical sanctions, tendering, and allotments must be wrapped up in the shortest possible time.
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Inter-Departmental Coordination: Faster resolution of pending land acquisition, forest clearances, and compensation cases to prevent unnecessary legal bottlenecks.
Focus on Megaprojects and Road Connectivity
The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted the need for faster execution of major road connectivity projects under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). He also demanded the expedited blacktopping of roads across the Union Territory.
The meeting specifically prioritized several key projects for accelerated work:
| Region | Key Projects Under Focus |
| Bridges | Ramban Bridge, Majalta Bridge, Pragwal–Inderpati Bridge |
| Public Buildings | New Assembly Complex Jammu, PWD Guest House Udhampur, PWD Guest House Hyderpora |
| Urban Corridors | Boulevard Road (Srinagar) and other major road widening corridors |
Safety First: Ramnagar Accident Report & Parapet Upgrades
In a major directive concerning public safety, the Deputy Chief Minister addressed recent infrastructure safety concerns. He directed the concerned officials to submit a detailed report on the recent Ramnagar accident.
Furthermore, he instructed the immediate identification and replacement of poorly constructed road parapets at vulnerable locations across hilly terrains to prevent future accidents and enhance commuter safety.
High-Level Attendance
The review meeting was attended by the top brass of Jammu and Kashmir’s engineering and administrative wings, including Chief Engineers, the Director of Finance, Planning officials, Superintending Engineers, and Executive Engineers from across the UT.
