Expressing discontent over the slow speed and delay in completion of four-lanning of Lakhanpur-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, especially Banihal-Srinagar stretch, the Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks & Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has asked the NHAI authorities to accelerate pace on the project to ensure its early completion. He said Government cannot leave people to suffer because of the laxity of the executing agency and asked NHAI to expedite the pace of work with all seriousness.This was stated by the Minister while chairing first meeting of High Level Monitoring Committee (HLMC) here today. The Committee was constituted to monitor the progress of the projects being executed by BRO and NHAI besides settling the issues related to shifting of utilities, land acquisition and forest clearance cases.Minister of State for R&B Mr Sunil Kumar Sharma, Principal Secretary Forest, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Commissioner Secretary R&B, Secretary Revenue, DCs of several districts including Srinagar, Baramulla and Ramban, Secretary Technical (R&B), Development Commissioner Works, Chief Engineer R&B, Project Director NHAI, Kashmir/Jammu, Representatives of BRO and SAMPARK were also present in the meeting.
The Minister said the land acquisition and removal of structures, coming under the road projects, should not hinder the progress of the projects and asked the DCs to ensure early settlement of land acquisition cases besides removal of structures. He asked them to take early action and handover the land to the executing agencies for taking forward the project smoothly. He also asked them to remove all hurdles affecting the progress of work.Emphasizing on maintaining coordination between line departments, the Minister asked the authorities of BRO, SAMPARK, NHAI to share their problems with the officers of R&B department for early settlement of issues. “Government machinery is here for facilitating your job and addressing your issues affecting the progress of the project”, said the Minister, adding that better coordination between line departments and executing agencies will definitely enhance the progress of the projects started across the State.Syed Altaf instructed the authorities of R&B department to keep check on encroachments coming up along-side of National Highway and other roads. He asked them to strictly implement the ban imposed on land and road encroachments.
Earlier, the authorities of BRO, NHAI and SAMPARK gave their detailed account of ongoing and completed projects through power point presentation.The meeting was informed that Srinagar-Jammu NHW has been divided into six zones with total length of 293 km. Of them, four lanning of 180 kms has been completed, including 17 kms of Srinagar bypass, and the work is apace on 92 kms while 72 km are yet to be awarded, it was told. While reviewing the progress on Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri road project, it was given out that Parimpora-Narbal stretch would be completed during this year. The meeting was informed that