Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 2: A major face lift exercise has been launched by the Estates Department and the R&B authorities besides other agencies including Jammu Municipal Corporation and JDA, ahead of Darbar move to the winter capital of the State here on November 10.
The Civil Secretariat, the centre of power, besides other move offices, the major roads of Jammu city and the residential colonies of the move employees besides the official bungalows of the VIPs have started getting white and colour wash and the much needed repair works. For the last over one month, this exercise was started and it is in full swing in the Secretariat.
Most of the city roads and even the residential quarters/ flats of the employees have badly damaged during the rains about one and half month back. The R&B authorities have repaired over 90 percent of the major city roads. The roads are being repaired, side protection and dividers painted and street lights are being repaired. The protection walls of all the fly overs, right from Parade Ground near Civil Secretariat up to Tawi bridge are being painted and senior officers of the concerned agencies are continuously monitoring the progress on the day today basis.
On the other hand, the renovation and repair work in the bungalows of the VIPs including Ministers and bureaucrats at Gandhinagar, Wazarat Road and other locations has started. The agencies have hired additional workers apart from regular employees and contractors for the speedy completion of the work. About Rs 4 to 5 crore is spent every year by the Estates Department for the renovation, repair and over all face lift of secretariat and over 3300 houses/ flats of the move and non-move employees.
Executive Engineer, Estates Department the H S Soodan when contacted said that Estates Department has to look after nearly 3300 units ( flats/ official quarters/ bungalows) in Jammu and by November 6, all type of repair renovation, white wash works will be completed. He said repair of bath rooms, taps, electric and wooden works besides paintings and white/ colour wash is the annual feature at the time of Darbar move. Furnishing and face lift of VIP bangalows is also part of this exercise.
Mr Soodan disclosed that about Rs 4 core is spent every year on this exercise and entire staff of the Estates Department has been engaged in the process. He said the department has its own carpenters, electricians and allied staff. They all are engaged and the services of contractors is also being taken for other purposes. He said in the additional block of civil secretariat, Jammu additional 14 pre-fabricated rooms and two halls have been created.
Superintending Engineer R&B Jammu S P Manhas said that major city roads are being repaired and dividers and flyovers painted. The work is going on for the last over three weeks. The work is being initiated on priority and the entire work will be completed by November 8. The focus is on the BC Road and all the roads leading to Civil Secretariat. The other roads will also be taken up gradually. He disclosed that nearly Rs 3 crore is spent annually on this exercise by the R&B Department. Restoration and repair of street lights is being done by the JMC authorities and JDA is also looking after its own area.
It is pertinent to mention here that civil Secretariat which closed in Srinagar on October 31, is being reopened in Jammu on November 10. Many files which had got wet or damaged in the flood in Srinagar are being repaired and maintained by the staff here as well.
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