CS calls for accelerating pace of development works

Srinagar, July 6: Assessing progress on Smart City works and other schemes of the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Saturday called for accelerating the pace of development works.

Chairing a meeting to review the status of various ongoing projects of Smart City Mission (SCM) here in Srinagar and Jammu and assessing other schemes of H&UDD under implementation in J&K, the chief secretary had a detailed project-wise assessment of smart city works currently under progress in the twin capital cities.

Regarding the operation of 100 e-buses by the concerned smart city authorities, he asked for a relook into the distance covered by each bus in a day and its occupancy during each trip.

Dulloo emphasised the optimum utilisation of the capacity of these buses with a minimum coverage of about 200 km a day.

He reviewed the plan for cleaning and beautification of Dal and Nigeen lakes.

Regarding running water transport, the chief secretary asked to choose routes that were more treaded and economically viable for people.

He also impressed upon the department to lay added focus on implementation of PMAY-Urban scheme as it provides necessary support to the urban poor for constructing their own houses.

Dulloo asked to make its traction more amenable for people by making the process attractive for the eligible applicants.

Commissioner Secretary H&UDD Mandeep Kaur presented an overview of the works in progress under the Smart City Mission.

She gave the specific reasons and challenges faced in the timely completion of certain works and the renewed deadlines fixed for each project.

Kaur said that of the 127 projects, 117 had been completed and 10 were at different stages of completion under the Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL).

She said that for Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), of the 184 projects, 114 had been completed and the remaining are under progress.

Giving details about the JSCL projects under progress, it was said that these included Tawi riverfront development, street development from Mubarak Mandi to Raghunath Bazaar, street development from Canal Road to Talab Tilloo, library-cum-cafeteria at Mubarak Mandi, oceanarium at Bagh-e-Bahu, heritage conservation works, improvement of 23 road junctions besides newly taken-up ‘waste to wonder’ projects in Jammu.

The ongoing works of SSCL that came up for discussion included lakefront development from Nishat to Naseem Bagh, development and beautification of Shalimar Canal, upgradation of Batamaloo Qamarwari Road, upgradation of Batamaloo-Moominabad Road, Traditional Souq market at Batamaloo, phased upgradation of downtown or Shehr-e-Khaas markets, Jhelum waterfront development besides other projects.

It was revealed that most of these projects were at advanced stages of completion and expected to be dedicated to the public by September this year.