SRINAGAR: District Development Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary inspected the construction work on Rambagh-Jahangir Chowk flyover where double-shift work has been started for early completion of the project.
The executing agency has completed eight slabs in last two weeks and 20 more slabs are to be laid for completion of the double-lane flyover, an official spokesman said. The DDC assured the local contractors of redress of their pending issues including GST refund, payment of bills and resolution of inter-agency issues.
The administration has set a May 2019 deadline for the completion of the project already running late by several years.
Dr Shahid appreciated the team of contractors of ensuring double-shift construction and maintaining the fast pace of work assured during previous meetings which resulted in completion of 7 slabs in 2 weeks and efficient planning for completion of remaining 20 slabs in a shortest possible time. He sought cooperation of local residents and shopkeepers in the smooth execution of work. He was responding to complaints about forced parking by locals, wrong entry, removal of safety barriers and other incidents, for which police has been asked to take cognizance. The flyover project was announced in July 2009 and was supposed to be completed by 2012, but work on it actually started in September 2013.
Initially, the construction work could not take off due to various issues, including rehabilitation of affected shopkeepers and other offices as it would have meant a loss to their business.Later, in 2014, the area was badly affected by floods, forcing the authorities to further extend the timeline and then the unrest of 2016 also caused disruption in the work.
The first deadline for the completion of the project was set as September 2016 and then another deadline of August 2017 was set which also was missed. The latest deadline missed by the executing agency for the completion of the phase-II of the project was December 31, 2018.
Meanwhile, the DDC also inspected works including revetment of Jhelum riverbank, dredging of Peerzoo Channel, construction of parks and joggers path along the riverbank between Amira Kadal and Zero Bridge, illumination of riverbank between Convent School Bridge and Zero Bridge, and parapet walling of embankment at Shivpora. He directed the departments for beautification and lighting of embankments at an earliest, establishment of kiosks to be run by SHGs of local residents, establishment of library, park and aesthetic infrastructure. Departments were asked for completion of works by April end. Flood protection work on left bank of river east of Zero bridge will also be taken up soon, it was decided. A detailed discussion was also held for beautification of shikaras and also rehabilitation of owners of damaged / dilapidated shikaras. Consultation with stakeholders was also held during the visit. Meanwhile, the team of officers also visited Nishat area to finalise location for sports field to be developed for local youth.