Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: Minister for Public Works, Floriculture and Gardens & Parks, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today conducted an extensive tour of various areas in Jammu city and took stock of developmental works.
The Minister inspected ongoing construction work on the Gandhi Nagar maternity hospital coming up at a cost of Rs 50 crore. He was informed that Rs 25 crore have been incurred on the project so far and the work on the building is apace and will be completed by June 2016.
The Minister directed the executing agency-R&B to redouble its efforts and speed up the pace of work and complete the building at the earliest. He said that the issues pertaining to release of funds will be taken up with the Health and Medical Education Department immediately in order to ensure that the work on the building is completed within the stipulated time.
The Minster also visited multilevel parking for super specialty hospital of Government Medical College where he was informed that Rs 6.29 crore out of Rs 8.13 crore approved cost of the project has been incurred. He was informed that the multi level parking facility will have a capacity for 192 vehicles at one time. He asked the concerned executing agency to go for installation of poly carbonated roof and after finishing touches handover the facility to the GMC as quickly as possible.
During his day long visit, the Minister visited and inspected the work on various projects of M.A.M College Jammu. He was informed that the canteen building of the college is almost ready and the remaining work will be shortly completed.
The Minister was informed that three projects including additional blocks for classrooms, school for humanities and liberal arts and canteen are under construction at an approved cost of Rs 6 crore. The executing agency also informed the Minister that the work on all these blocks is apace and their foundation work is already completed.
Mr. Bukhari also inspected indoor sports building where the officers of JKPCC informed him that 90 per cent of the work on the project coming up at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore is already completed and the building will be handed over to college authorities in shortest possible time.
Regarding deficiencies in swimming pool raised up by the college authorities, the Minister assured that the matter will be taken up with the Ministry of Sports so that rest of work on the project is finalized.
Later the Minister visited 3.60 kilometres Kunjwani-Satwari 6-lanning road project coming up at the cost of Rs 16 crore under CRF where he was informed by the officers that Rs 8 Crore have already been incurred on the project and the work is apace. He was apprised that the work on the project will be completed within stipulated time.
Mr. Bukhari also inspected the 5.85 kilometres project providing alternate road connectivity to Niki Tawi area via Belicharan which has been started due to expansion of the airport.
The Minister also inspected 4th bridge Niki Rawi where he inspected the construction work of counter fort wall near the bridge. The JKPCC officers informed the Minister that Rs 8 crore out of approved cost of Rs 17 crore have already been incurred on the project. The Minister however, directed to restrict the work upto Rs 8 crore only till the issue pertaining to release of remaining funds is taken up with the Planning and Development Department.
Later, Bukhari visited the under construction New Legislature Complex adjacent to the Civil Secretariat and directed the concerned officers to speed up work so that the same is completed within the stipulated time.
The Minister also visited Panjtirthi where he inspected various projects and directed R&B officers to go for macadamization of 25 kilometres with revised specification (50 mm instead of 30 mm).
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Jammu East Rajesh Gupta. The Minister asked the officers to ensure that there is no compromise on the quality of the work and specifications laid down in the contract.
The Minister also visited Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and directed officers of the Floriculture Department to maintain park and lawns without disturbing the heritage site.
On this occasion, a public deputation invited attention of the Minister towards problems created by the concertina wires laid around the complex. The Minister assured the delegation that their problem will be taken up with the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and officials of the Heritage complex.