Govt removes ERA chief for overrunning Srinagar's crucial flyover deadline twice

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: It was the all important meeting of the Board of Directors of Economic Reconstruction Agency and its Chief Executive Officer Vinod Sharma was all set for annual presentation but then cropped up the issue of Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover.
The projects had already failed to meet two deadlines. The Chief Executive Officer suggested few more months. "You gave two deadlines till now for the completion of Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover, but could not meet them on the ground. We cannot face people now," the source quoted Akhtar as having said to the CEO in the meeting which was being chaired by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh.
The meeting ended after detailed discussions on the agenda items but a couple of hours later came in the government order of removing Vinod Sharma as ERA chief. In a swift decision that caused ripples in the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), the government today "shifted" Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Vinod Sharma, for failing to meet deadlines on major projects, primarily on Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover.
As per the order, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rohit Kansal, shall hold the charge of the post of CEO ERA in addition to his own duties, till further orders.
Sharma as per the order will await further orders of adjustment in the Housing and Urban Development Department.
The government order came swiftly after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today chaired Board of Directors meeting of ERA and asked its executives of ERA to chase the project completion with all seriousness and discourage the contractors who do not follow a strict schedule.
A source present in the meeting told The News Now that the order to shift the CEO was "almost prepared" in the meeting after the CM and two senior PDP ministers reprimanded Sharma for not meeting the deadlines on completion of the flyover.
Besides CM, Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Education, Syed Altaf Bukhari reprimanded the CEO for his failure to meet the deadlines and ensure completion of projects in the state.
The source said the PWD minister reprimanded the CEO for "embarrassing" the government before public.
"You gave two deadlines till now for the completion of Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover, but could not meet them on the ground. We cannot face people now," the source quoted Akhtar as having said to the CEO.
"You come up with excuses in every meeting," Akhtar told him.
Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover has missed many deadlines of completion from the last four years, while ERA cited 2014 floods and 2016 unrest as major reasons for its completion.
However in April this year, PWD minister had said that the first phase-Rambagh to Amar Singh-College of the project will be thrown open for public in August, which could not be met. Later, Akhtar extended the deadline to September, which was also not met by ERA.
The project has caused traffic mess in Srinagar and has given immense inconvenience to commuters and transporters.
The source said that the CM, Akhtar and Bukhari were angry with the CEO in the meeting
"The CM told the CEO that we have given you two years, but you could not come up to our expectations," the source said.
A senior government official present in the meeting told said that the CEO was "too junior to manage to manage such a prestigious post."
"The fallout of his non-performance and not meeting the deadlines become the reason for his shifting," the official told The News Now.
"It could not have been a better decision than this," the official said.