Jammu chief secretary holds meeting on road projects

Jammu’s Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta recently held a meeting to review the progress of various road and highway projects connecting different parts of the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Public Works Department; PCCF; Commissioner Secretary, Forests; Commissioner Secretary, Revenue; Secretary PD&MD; Secretary, Transport; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; DG Budget; RO NHAI, DCs of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Samba. Outstation-based officers participated in the meeting through video conferencing. Dr Mehta impressed upon the officers to complete the Semi-Ring Road for Jammu by March next year and explore the possibility of a Ring Road around the city. He asked them to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for this. The Chief Secretary also stressed on the officers to prepare a DPR for Kathua-Bani-Sarthal-Bhadarwah-Doda Road without delay. He told them that it is of great significance with respect to tourism in these areas. He directed for connecting it with both the Jammu-Srinagar Highway and the Sinthan-Kishtwar Road for its maximum utility. He told them that the f Sinthan-Kishtwar and Sonamarg Road should be maintained in good condition constantly. He called for keeping ready the men and machinery for snow clearance of these roads for their least blocking during winters. He called for expediting the work on Jaiswal Bridge for lessening the travel time on the highway. Dr Mehta asked the authorities to improve the overall road surface of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway so that travel time is reduced to maximum of eight hours. See also: Tunnels Across Major Passes In Ladakh In OffingMumbai’s western suburbs to get bulk of road upgrade funds