J&K LG stresses on timely completion of AIIMS, other projects

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has asked senior bureaucrats and officers in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to complete construction of all major infrastructure projects, particularly two hospitals—one each in Kashmir and Jammu—on the pattern of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on time.

Taking a review of the progress on major infrastructure projects in Kashmir valley at a high level meeting on yesterday, Sinha exhorted the bureaucracy to remove all hassles and impediments, with top priority to mega projects in the health sector, and ensure completion of the two AIIMS-type hospitals, at Awantipora in Kashmir and Samba in Jammu, without any delay.

During his interaction with the officers, he learned that work had not progressed on the two hospitals beyond land acquisition process in the last several years. He also reviewed a host of upcoming developmental projects in Kashmir. He was briefed on the dozens of on-going and upcoming projects in the departments of Health & Medical Education, Rural Development, Power Development, Jal Shakti, Agriculture and Horticulture besides Youth Services and Sports.

Stressing on the need to strengthen medical infrastructure in the region, Sinha called for speedy execution of work on major projects in Health & Medical Education. The projects included one AIIMS-type hospital at Awantipora at the cost of Rs 2,000 crore, Government Medical College, at Baramulla and Anantnag, at Rs 139 crore each, Unani Hospital Nawabag Ganderbal worth Rs 32.50 crore, an additional block of Lal Ded Maternity Hospital constructed by J&K Economic Reconstruction Authority (ERA) worth Rs 132.5 crore, construction of 120-bed additional hospital block at Bone & Joint Hospital Barzulla by ERA worth Rs 88.94 crore besides the 200-bed Maternity and Childcare Hospital Bemina, Srinagar, coming up at the estimated cost of Rs 116.28 crore.

Sinha learned that there was not much progress also on the Rs 920-crore project proposed to be executed for transit and accommodation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits who have got different government jobs under the Prime Minister’s special employment drive all across Kashmir valley. He directed the executing agencies to resume work and complete this project as quickly as possible.

During his review of the sports sector, Sinha took serious note of the unwarranted delay in the execution of the projects taken up by National Projects Construction Corporation Ltd, especially the Bakshi Stadium under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP). He directed Secretary Youth Services and Sports Department Sarmad Hafiz to take on-spot review to solve all the impending issues and expedite the project on priority.

LG also reviewed progress on Saffron Park at Dussu, Pampore, worth Rs 37.65 crore, construction of Government of Degree College, Singhpora Pattan, Government College of Engineering & Technology at Safapora, Semi Ring Road around Srinagar, and Z-Morh tunnel, (Srinagar-Shopian Qazigund Road) of which 40.00 km of the total 85.72 km has been completed.

Progress of the work on mega projects under execution in Kashmir by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC), including 148-metre Span Watalbagh Basipora Bridge Ganderbal, 188-meters span Sharifabad Bridge, construction of 3×42 metre PSC Girder Double Lane Bridge at Noorjahan, Qamarwari, besides construction of four major water drainage projects by ERA, coming up at an aggregate cost of Rs 133 crore, in Srinagar was also reviewed in the meeting.

Taking a strong note of the unwarranted delays in the completion of some projects, Sinha directed the officers concerned to ensure that the projects did not languish. He asked the officers to take regular reviews and remove all bottlenecks to expedite the execution. He said that his government would keep incentives on all the projects completed on time..