ERA to conduct safety audit of flyover projects

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 5: Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) today said it will conduct safety audit of flyover projects that are being executed by the Agency in State following Kolkata tragedy.
An ERA spokesman said a four member team of Asian Development Bank comprising Atsushi Kaneko, Senior Portfolio Manager, ADB, Ron Slangen, Resettlement Consultant (INRM), Saugata Dasgupta ADB (INRM) visited the state to review the progress of various projects being executed by the Agency under the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP).
“ADB mission visited various sites on March 4 and 5 which include construction sites of Jehangir Chowk- Rambagh expressway corridor, Multilevel parking facility at KMDA, Athwajan drainage project along National Highway Bye-pass, Mehjoor bridge, revamping of pumping stations along the banks of Jhelum River in Srinagar which was followed by a meeting with ERA officers on March 5 that was also attended by Chief Executive Officer Vinod Sharma, Malik Basharat Ahmad, Director Central , J&K ERA, Mir  Iqbal Project Manager, JKUSDIP (T) , Zulfiqar Hussain  Project Manager, JKUSDIP (Hyd),” said the spokesman.
He said the Chief Executive Officer, ERA, in a meeting informed the visiting team that till date Rs 818 crores have been spent by J&K ERA under the ongoing JKUSDIP funded by Asian Development Bank. “He informed them that all out efforts are being made by J&KERA to meet the physical and financial targets set for the projects,” the spokesman said.
The ERA spokesman said that the CEO ERA further informed that keeping in view the recent unfortunate flyover accident at Kolkata the State Government has ordered for safety audit of all under construction flyover projects in State including of two flyovers being constructed by ERA in Srinagar and Jammu respectively.
“He added that in this regard ERA has directed its Project Management Consultants to immediately mobilize the services of structural stability engineer and safety engineer to prepare the safety improvement plan for the flyover projects. He further said that third party safety audit from a national level reputed engineering institute is also being considered,” the spokesman said.
The ADB team also had a meeting with Commissioner, SMC and conveyed there concern about prevailing conditions at Achan Landfill site, he said, adding that the SMC Commissioner conveyed the resolve of State Government to operate the Achan Landfill site as per the solid waste management guidelines.

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