Review of ongoing Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project works

The Secretary of PWD(R&B), Bhupinder Kumar, conducted a comprehensive tour of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and Semi Ring Road Jammu projects today to evaluate the progress of the ongoing works on these prestigious projects. Accompanying the Secretary on his maiden field visit, after assuming the charge of PWD, were the Project Director of NHAI, the Director of Finance PWD, the Director of Planning PWD, and other officers from PWD and NHAI. During the visit, the Secretary instructed NHAI authorities to enhance the riding surface of the road from Satwari to Bari Brahmna, aiming to reduce inconvenience faced by the public and commuters due to execution work on the expressway project. While traveling the entire length of the expressway project in J&K, undertaken by NHAI in three packages between Kathua and Jammu city at a cost of Rs 57.81 bn, he emphasised the need for NHAI to complete the expressway works by the stipulated time frame of September 2024. Bhupinder Kumar also paid a visit to the damaged Tarnah bridge site and received a detailed briefing from NHAI authorities. The NHAI officers assured that the restoration work of the bridge would be finished by March 2024, resolving the difficulties faced by heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) and commuters. The Secretary also scrutinized bottlenecks at the Road under Bridge at Nanak Chak, the flyover at Ghagwal, and other locations, advising NHAI to coordinate with the Northern Railway to ensure the timely completion of the works. He also inspected the casting yard of NHAI at Jakh and was briefed by NHAI authorities about the quality control mechanism in place to ensure swift and high-quality casting works for the expressway project. Bhupinder Kumar also visited the Semi Ring Road Jammu to evaluate the readiness of the road for the opening of traffic. He was informed that 48 km of the road had been completed.