Mufti warns agencies against time overrun in projects

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today warned executing agencies against time overrun in the execution of various ongoing projects in health, education, tourism and other connected sectors in the state.
He also directed Irrigation and Flood Control Department to expedite work on realignment of irrigation canal and shifting of utilities which will facilitate early execution of work on the expansion of Jammu Airport runway, an official spokesman said.
The Chief Minister, who issued these instructions while on an extensive tour of the winter capital, was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta and Secretary Mohammad Ramzan were also present on the occassion, he said.

The Chief Minister first inspected the under construction new Legislature Complex, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 160 crore by the JKPCC. He was informed that the work on the exteriors will be completed by March next year, he said.
Being constructed over an area of 2.65 lakh square feet, the six-floored Legislature Complex will be connected to the Civil Secretariat by an aerobridge and will house new Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and their Secretariats. A provision of parking in the basement has also been incorporated in the project.
Sayeed also reviewed progress of work on realignment of irrigation canal and construction of an alternate road from National Highway to Nikki Tawi via Belicharana to pave way for the extension of Jammu Airport runway.

He was informed that the realignment of the irrigation canal will be completed by December 2016. The project is being executed at a cost of Rs 59.80 crore. Similarly, the work on alternate road connectivity to Nikki Tawi is being executed at a cost of Rs 22 crore.

Besides the road, the project entails components of land compensation, shifting of utilities and reconstruction of army structures and assets, in lieu of the existing structures near the Airport.
The execution of these projects will enable the Airport Authority of India to initiate the work on extension of Jammu Airport runway by another 1300 ft, which is considered to be a critical requirement in upgradation of the airport.

The Chief Minister was also briefed about the broad
contours of the Bikram Chowk Flyover project which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 72 crore by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA). It is scheduled for completion by December 2016.
CEO ERA, Vinod Sharma, informed the Chief Minister that 50 per cent progress has been achieved on the project, which has been taken up under Asian Development Bank-funded Urban Sector Development Investment Programme.
The flyover will substantially decongest the traffic between old and new Jammu city and provide succour to the commuters on one of the busiest traffic junctions of the winter capital.

The Chief Minister reviewed and issued directions for fast-tracking work on Barrage-cum-Tawi Lake project which will give a new look to the winter capital besides giving fillip to tourism industry.
The Chief Minister also issued directions for fast- tracking construction of the barrage which is a major component of the project for creating Jammu's first artificial water-body. The barrage water will also be utilized to augment the irrigation facilities in paddy-growing areas of the district.
Sayeed was briefed that the reservoir would be able to lift nearly 700 cusecs of water from river Tawi to recharge Ranbir Canal which will irrigate 8000 kanals of agriculture land at the tail-end areas which still depend on rainfall.

While inspecting work on the Jammu ropeway project, which will connect Bahu Fort to Peer Khoo, the chief minister said technology comparable to Gulmarg Gandola project should be deployed to create a major attraction for tourists visiting the winter capital.
He said the picturesque location will play a key role in increasing the footfall of travellers as it connects the ropeway two major heritage sites of the city, Mubarak Mandi and Bahu Fort.
The Chief Minister was briefed that the total cost of the project is Rs 61.92 crore on which all required clearances, including one from Environment Ministry, have been obtained. The ropeway is scheduled to be completed by June 2017.

Reviewing the expansion of healthcare facilities, Sayeed first arrived at Gandhi Nagar to inspect the pace of work on 200-bedded Government Maternity Hospital, being constructed at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
The Chief Minister also inspected the Government Dental Hospital at Amphalla which is nearing completion at a cost of Rs 37.80 crore.
The six-storey structure, which is in conformity with DCI guidelines, will facilitate delivery of quality medical facilities to dental patients, besides creating infrastructure for departments like Oral Medicine and Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Periodontics, Conservative Dentistry and Orthodontics.