Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 13: Secretary, PWD(R&B), Bhupinder Kumar today conducted detailed tour of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and Semi Ring road Jammu projects to assess the progress of ongoing works on these prestigious projects.
Project Director, NHAI; Director, Finance PWD; Director Planning PWD and other officers of PWD and NHAI also accompanied the Secretary during his maiden field visit after assuming the charge of PWD.
During the visit, the Secretary directed NHAI authorities to improve the riding surface of road from Satwari to Bari Brahmna so that inconvenience faced by public and commuters due to execution work on the expressway project is reduced. He travelled the entire length of the expressway project falling in J&K, which is taken up by NHAI in three packages between Kathua and Jammu city at a cost of Rs 5781 cr. He impressed upon NHAI to complete the expressway works within the stipulated time frame of September 2024.
Bhupinder Kumar also visited damaged Tarnah bridge site and took detailed briefing from NHAI authorities.
The NHAI officers assured that restoration work of the bridge will be completed by March 2024 so that the difficulties faced by the HMVs and commuters are resolved.
The Secretary also inspected bottlenecks at road under bridge at Nanak Chak, flyover at Ghagwal and other locations and advised NHAI to coordinate with the Northern Railway so that the works could be completed without any delay. He also inspected casting yard of NHAI at Jakh and was briefed by NHAI authorities about the quality control mechanism in place for ensuring speedy and quality casting works for the expressway project.
Bhupinder Kumar also visited Semi Ring road Jammu to assess the readiness of the road for opening of traffic. He was informed that 48 km length of the road has been completed.
NHAI was directed to complete the pending bridges on the road so that Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch bound traffic is diverted through it and Jammu city is decongested. NHAI authorities were also advised for conducting safety audit of the road before opening it for traffic.
Bhupinder Kumar also visited and inspected under-construction tunnels at Balwal and Kheri, which will connect the ring road with NH-44 at Jagti. He was informed that the tunnels are on track for completion in June 2025. NHAI authorities were directed to immediately take up strengthening of the existing PWD roads in Bhalwal-Kheri-Jagti stretch of the Ring road, in consultation with Chief Engineers R&B and PMGSY, so the ring road is connected with NH-44 for LMVs till the completion of tunnel.
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