Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 7: Observing that non-completion of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) Project even after lapse of 12 years has defeated the very objective behind its planning, Parliamentary Panel has laid stress on robust monitoring system to complete the entire project by the revised target date and meet expectations of the nation.
This project of national importance was conceived to bring about socio-economic development of the State through enhanced connectivity within the region and with rest of the country by providing an efficient all weather transportation channel that could function in adverse weather conditions and considerably reduce the travel time to various destinations in and outside the Valley.
In order to achieve this objective, August 2007 deadline was fixed for the completion of project. To ensure timely completion the project was divided into three legs-Udhampur-Katra, Katra-Qazigund and Qazigund-Baramulla. For first leg scheduled date of completion was March 2003 while as for the second and third legs the deadline was August 2007 and March 3, 2003 respectively.
“Though two legs-Udhampur-Katra and Qazigund-Baramulla were completed albeit several years beyond their stipulated deadline, the fate of Katra-Qazigund leg is still hanging in balance and now revised target date for completion of this section is 2017”, Parliament Panel said in its latest report. No doubt this section is passing through rugged and hostile terrain and same is being projected as one of the reasons behind slow progress but this cannot be a tenable reason for the project to remain incomplete especially when entire project has already suffered very prolonged delay, the report added.
“In order to ensure that remaining leg is completed within revised target, it is imperative for the Railway Board to monitor the progress on monthly basis so as to meet the expectations of the nation in terms of providing the citizens within the Valley and outside Kashmir a faster, cheaper, reliable and comfortable mode of transportation and to bring about socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir”, the Panel said.
In view of the fact that success of the project of such a magnitude is heavily dependent upon robust monitoring system, the Panel has urged the Railways Ministry to empower the Chief Administrative Officers with more technical and financial powers so as to enable them to take quick decisions for timely and seamless execution of the project.
Pointing to the assertions of the Ministry that project was also suffering delay due to slow land acquisition exercise and forest clearance, the Panel has stressed on greater coordination between J&K Government and Ministry and asked the Ministry to take up the matter with the State Government and also at other appropriate levels to timely obtain the land acquisition and forest clearance so that the progress of the project is not impeded anymore.
The Panel has also desired that the Railways should resort to confidence building rapport with the local people so that construction work is not disrupted on trivial issues. “The Railway Board should recruit adequate engineers, impart them with periodical training and involve in such important projects so as to prepare them for undertaking challenging projects”, the Panel said, adding “every year batches of Railway Engineers be engaged in the USBRL project, till its completion, to gain working experience in extreme conditions”.
Referring to losses suffered on account of contractors’ claims and foreclosure of contracts, the Panel has impressed upon the Ministry to put in place a robust mechanism for effective planning and project monitoring so as to ensure that such losses/claims do not recur and last leg of project is completed without causing further loss to the national exchequer.
It is pertinent to mention here that Udhampur-Katra section was operationalised with effect from July 4, 2014 while as Qazigund-Baramulla was completed in phases by October 2009.
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