JAMMU, FEBRUARY 16 (KNO) : Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar on Friday directed the engineers to work in ‘mission mode’ for completing the ongoing projects within the timelines set by the state or the central government. The Minister issued these directions while chairing a meeting to review the progress on pending and ongoing projects of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) under Phase I to X in the state. Commissioner, Secretary PWD (R&B) Sanjeev Verma, Chief Engineer, PMGSY Jammu S.P Manhas, Chief Engineer, PMGSY Kashmir Showkat Jeelani Pandit, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and other officers of PMGSY were present in the meeting.
The Minister was informed in the meeting that 1536 schemes have been completed under Phase I to X covering a total road length of 8244.81 KMs at the cost of Rs. 4085.92 crore while as 982 projects are going on in the state. It was further informed that the Centre has sanctioned 199 new schemes under PMGSY Phase XI, Batch-I covering a total length of 1208.83 KMs at the sanctioned cost of Rs. 955.62 crore and that the tendering process has been started for the same. A total of 815 new schemes under Phase XI, Batch II has been sent to the Centre for sanctioning involving a length of 5022.59 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 4373.18 crore, the meeting was informed. Expressing concern over the dearth of hot mix plants in far-flung areas in Rajouri, Poonch, Mahore, Ramnagar, Reasi and Chenab Valley, the Minister asked the engineers to encourage the contractors for installing hot mix plants in these areas for which the requisite support would be provided by the concerned district administrations (KNO)