BHADARWAH: Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar said the government is working under a comprehensive road upgradation plan to macadamise every road in Chenab Valley by the end of 2019. The minister said this while addressing a series of public meetings during his day-long visit to Bhadarwah.
Stressing that the roads are pre-requisite for development of any area, the Minister said the government will spend more than Rs 500 crore for connecting far-flung areas in the district with all-weather road connectivity.
Taking cognisance of the complaints raised by the people regarding works left unattended for years together, the minister directed the department to take strict action against those contractors who don’t meet the timelines of projects.
The minister was informed that the department has targeted to macadamize a road length of 220 km, besides construction of 12 bridges in Doda in the current financial year. “The government has completed the long stalled prestigious projects including Batote-Kishtwar road, Ganpat Bridge and Bhaderwah-Chamba road,” the Minister said, adding that more than 140 road projects would be completed in the district under PMGSY and other programmes in the next two years.
The Minister also laid the foundation stone of link road from Ghati Ghurakha to Himote via Lalha to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 3 crore. He also laid the foundation for widening and upgradation of road from Pul Doda to Beoli via Doda under CRF at the cost of Rs. 5 crore. Minister of State for Public Works, Sunil Sharma was also present on the occasion.
MLA Bhaderwah Daleep Parihar, MLC Firdous Tak, Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B) Sudheer Shah, Chief Engineer, PMGSY S.P Manhas, Deputy Commissioner, Doda Bhawani Rakwal, Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Syed Nayeem Ahmad, Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Circle Doda Niaz Banday, engineers of PWD (R&B), PMGSY and senior officers of district administration accompanied the Minister during the tour.