CS reviews progress on ongoing road projects; says survey underway to cover unconnected habitations under PMGSY IV

JAMMU : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on monday chaired a meeting of Public Works Department (PWD) attended by the Engineers of the executing agencies to review progress on major ongoing road projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
While taking stock of overall progress on accomplishing these vital road connectivity links across the UT, the Chief Secretary emphasised on enhancing the capacity of the engineers to enable them in meeting deadlines efficiently. He directed the senior functionaries to monitor the works themselves for timely completion. He maintained that these road projects are highly significant and need to be completed expeditiously while observing all quality parameters and supervision by the senior officers from the concerned agencies.
He emphasised early completion of survey and formulation of DPRs under PMGSY IV so that all of the unconnected habitations are provided all weather road links under this programme without any fail. He advised the Secretary to regularly monitor this process and complete the requisite Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) in respect of each village so that due priority is given to them for early execution and completion.
In a presentation, Secretary PWD, Bhupinder Kumar, apprised the meeting of the achievements made under PMGSY I, II and III. He informed that under PMGSY-I a road length of 17578 Km was constructed including 210 Long Span Bridges (LSBs) and 7 LSBs stands completed under phase II while 1248 km road including a LSB was constructed under phase III of this programme.
The meeting discussed the action plan for completion of remaining works of earlier phases of PMGSY. It also took note of the rolling out of PMGSY IV and its scope of implementation in the UT. The list of unconnected habitations and their survey over the ‘Gram Sadak Survey app’ and the status of preparation of CNCPL for each proposed habitation at block/district level was debated threadbare in the meeting.
It was revealed that J&K being in special category along with NE states would be given assistance to the extent of 90% by the central government under PMGSY. It also has a relaxation in terms of population criteria as the habitations here need to have a population of 250 only instead of 500 for other States/UTs with legislatures.
The meeting was apprised that out of the 1386 unconnected villages in J&K, Gram Sadak Survey in favour of 1249 villages had been finalised and those of 102 is under scrutiny to take them up under PMGSY phase IV for execution.
About Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), it was divulged that out of 121 ongoing projects sanctioned at a cost of Rs2366 crore an expenditure of Rs 1180 crore had been incurred till date and 21 projects stands completed against the target of 41 projects for the year 2024-25.
With respect to NABARD RIDF, it was given out that 1098 projects were sanctioned under RIDFs XXIV to XXIX to be completed at a cost of Rs4761 crore. Out of these, an expenditure of Rs 1246 crore had been recorded and 195 projects completed till date. It was added that under RDIF-XXX the UT has submitted 140 projects for approval costing around Rs949 crore.
Regarding the overall performance registered under Capex for the financial year 2024-25, the meeting was informed that 2115 works stands completed as on date against the target of 3469 works sanctioned under Road Sector, NABARD, Cities & Towns, CRIF, PMGSY, Bridges programme and other heads of development.
As far as blacktopping of roads is concerned, it was divulged that a total of 3013 km of roads had been macadamised during the ensuing financial year under different sectors of development. Moreover, 25 bridges had also been completed against the target of 60 fixed for this fiscal.
The Chief Secretary also took appraisal of the progress achieved on major road projects executed in different parts of J&K under various schemes. He asked about the current status of their completion with the possible dates of completion. He also directed for completion of all projects on due date so that there is no more slippage in timelines fixed for them.
Other issues that came up for discussion in the meeting included merger of JKPCC staff in PWD and utilisation of funds still lying with the Corporation for finishing of incomplete projects left out by it.