Flag the issues hampering the developmental work: CS to Executing Agencies

Inspects highway upgradation, rail link project works, Nashri tunnel

Srinagar/Jammu: Expressing dismay over the sluggish pace of work on the upgradation of the arduous Banihal-Ramban stretch of Sgr-Jmu National Highway, the Chief Secretary, B B Vyas today asked the executing agency to immediately flag the issues hampering the work so that the same are taken up at the appropriate level.
The Chief Secretary travelled from Srinagar to Jammu by road today to personally take stock of the road condition, snow clearance measures, disaster preparedness and progress of upgradation and developmental works of the arterial link enroute. He also took stock of the status of work on the Katra-Banihal rail link project. The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Home Secretary, R K Goyal, Director General of Police, S P Vaid, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Mandeep Bhandari, DC Ramban Tariq Hussain Ganai and other concerned officers. Regarding, New Qazigund-Banihal road tunnel, Chief Secretary was informed 80% work is complete on the tunnel and it would be through for traffic next year, bringing down the travel time between Srinagar and Jammu considerably. Regarding Chenani-Udhampur stretch of the highway, the Chief Secretary was informed that work is going on at full pace and it would be completed within the set time frame. The Chief Secretary asked executing agencies and the concerned coordinating departments to address the bottlenecks, if any, at the earliest. He asked concerned DCs to directly bring into his notice the issues like forest clearance, land acquisition and other matters to address the same. Earlier during the day, the Chief Secretary took a detailed review of the winter-preparedness and other related arrangements at Anantnag. It informed that, a 24x7 Control Room has been established at Khannabal to press into service men and machinery wherever required. The Chief Secretary also visited the Civil Defence Lines at Khannabal to review the preparedness of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). At Jawahar Tunnel, he was informed that 94 shelter sheds have been established where adequate rations and other facilities have been dumped. Besides, health facilities have also been augmented at health centers along the national highway.