Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Aug 13: Faizabad bridge at Surankot would be thrown open for public by March 2016, while work in double shifts is going on to restore Sheri Kashmir bridge Poonch within the next four months and Rs. 12 crore are being spent on construction of Degree College at Surankote.
This information was given to the Minister for R&B Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, while inspecting college and bridge sites here today.
While speaking at a public meeting at Surankote, the Minister said that as Chairman of the District Development Board Poonch, he will work to complete the projects taken in hand and reduce the developmental and infrastructural gaps.
The Minister said road network is being improved and matter with regard to Bafliaz-Poonch road will be taken up with BRO for its early up-gradation and if necessary the road would be taken over by the R&B Department for its macadamization and maintenance.
Syed Altaf said the macadamization specifications have been changed from 20 mm to 50mm and 75mm aimed to create durable roads in the State. He said contractors are bound to give three years guarantee for the roads they macadamize. He said Government is contemplating to cancel the licenses of such hot mix plant holders who are staying way from participation in macadamization programme started across the State.
The Minister said that matter related to 4 lane Jammu-Chakanda Bagh and Srinagar-Uri roads has been taken up with the Union Government and is expected to be approved shortly.
Regarding absorption of locals in the power projects, the Minister said he would take up the matter with the higher authorities of the concerned company.
Former legislator Pir Mansoor Hussan also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the people from different villages and Panchayats raised the issues pertaining to roads, water supply, transformers, up-gradation of schools, posting of doctors in SDH Poonch etc for consideration of the Minister.
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