Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Sept 20: Minister for Roads & Buildings Abdul Majid Wani conducted an extensive tour of various areas and took stock of the pace of developmental activities.
Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan, besides legislators, Ajaz Ajan, Dr. Shahnaz Ganai and Jehangir Hussain Mir also accompanied the Minister during the tour.
At Poonch, the Minister inspected District Hospital building coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 18 crore. The three storey building is being constructed by R&B Department for which Rs. 10 crore have been released so far.
The Minister directed the executing agency for timely completion of the project to avoid needless cost escalation.
Mr. Wani also visited Chakkan-Da-Bagh Trade Centre and took stock of the pace of construction work on the centre. The double-storey complex comprising godown, X-ray cabin, sentry posts and administrative block is coming-up at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.45 crore.
The Minister was informed that a proposal amounting Rs. 10 crore has been submitted to the Union Government for installation of large scanner and construction of compound wall and allied works of the centre.
At Khanater Tanda, the Minister laid foundation of Suka Chua-Charoon road. The 12 kilometres road would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.73 crore under NABARD, RIDF-XVI which would provide road connectivity to the people of three Panchayats of the area. He also directed the district administration for immediate construction of a small bridge over Khanater Nalla at Tanda in loving memory of the students who were washed away in flash flood while going to attend their school.
At Madana, Mr. Wani inaugurated Madana to Nabana road. The 5 kilometres road was constructed and black-topped by utilizing Rs. 4.02 crore under PMGSY and would connect over half a dozen villages of the area with the Surankot- Poonch main road.
At Lassana, the Minister inaugurated Lassana- Bachainwali road. The 3 kilometres black-topped road was constructed by expending Rs. 2.19 crore under PMGSY.
At Marhote and Sanai Surankote, Mr. Wani laid the foundation of two motorable bridges which would be constructed at a cumulative cost of over Rs. 8 crore under NABARD.
At Behramgala, the Minister laid foundation of Deck type motorable bridge over Chandimarh Nallah. The project would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.50 crore and would connect habitations of Behramgala Panchayat.
Mr. Wani also inspected pace of work on Mughal road. He inaugurated two Snow Clearance Machinery Detts one each at Zaznar and Padpawan Shopian.
En-route various individuals and deputations called on the Minister and apprised him of the problems confronting them with demands for their early redressal. These include construction of road links, bridges, opening and up-gradation of health centres and educational institutions, engagement of manpower for maintenance of roads and provision of adequate water and power supply.
The Minister assured that their genuine demands would be looked into and addressed on priority.
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