J&K spends only 52% of Capex budget on roads till Dec; CS for meeting annual targets

29 December 2021

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JAMMU, DEC 29: J&K’s Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today directed the Public Works (R&B) Department to speed up execution of works under Capex, CSS and PMGSY to make road to every village in J&K a reality.

He made this observation in the course of a review meeting on the functioning of the department, which was attended by the Principal Secretary, PWD and other senior officers of the department.

In his presentation on Capex, Principal Secretary, PWD, Shailendra Kumar informed that the department has spent 52% of the funds released as on December, 2021, which represents a 22% increase in expenditure over the same period during the last year.

Giving details of the works completed under various schemes, Principal Secretary, PWD informed that a total of 2650 projects have been completed till date during the current year.

Against the target of 8000 roads, 5629 roads have been black topped while 2011 roads have been metalled/shingled during the current fiscal year.

While stating that weather is a hindrance in the execution of works in some areas in J&K, the Chief Secretary said that the department needs to devise a mechanism where in technical vetting of the projects can be done in advance at the time of submission of projects to NABARD and administrative approval/technical sanction can follow later immediately after the projects are sanctioned by NABARD and funds for the projects are released by the Finance Department.

He advised the department to think innovatively to cut down on time lost in awaiting various regulatory approvals and preparation of bidding documents by conceiving actionable protocols.

It was further informed that there has been an expenditure of 95 % and 80 % against the releases made under Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and PMGSY respectively.

While appreciating the performance of department, the Chief Secretary asked the department to ensure that the target of 1750 KM road length under PMGSY III is achieved during the next year.
He laid emphasis on enhancing connectivity in the border villages including for border guarding forces and directed that all the border posts in J&K should be connected with the roads during the next year.

He further informed that out of 4355 works in which administrative approval stands accorded, 4239 works have been tendered and 3988 works stands allotted for execution.

Out of 819 projects sanctioned under NABARD, while 131 works were completed during the last year, 31 projects have been completed till date during the current fiscal year.

Under PMGSY I& II against the target of 322 roads, 226 roads were completed as on march 2021 while 103 long span bridge projects were completed against the target of 241 such bridges. Dr Mehta emphasized completion of rest of work at the earliest.

Earlier while chairing a meeting of Union Territory Level Standing Committee (UTLSC), the Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that the short closure of the projects under PMGSY is resorted to only in consultation with the concerned Panchayats.

While agreeing with the departmental proposal for de-sanctioning of 9 projects under PMGSY I& II, Dr. Mehta asked the department to explore the possibility of considering all such projects, out of the de-sanctioned ones, as can be feasibly taken up under PMGSY IV.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to complete all 249 projects under PMGSY I & II by September, 2022.