SRINAGAR: Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar today held an extensive tour of Srinagar city to take stock of the pace of work on various developmental projects.
The Minister called on the officials to ensure all projects are completed within the deadline. While visiting the under construction Rambagh Flyover, the Minister expressed his satisfaction over the pace of work. The Minister was informed that more than 1 km of flyover stretch is complete with slab and other works. He was informed that the first link of the flyover connecting Amar Singh College with Barzulla will be operational by the end of August and the entire flyover will be complete by the end of the year.
The Minister said that the flyover would have been completed long back but it was delayed first by the 2014 floods and then the long turmoil in 2016. The Minister said in comparison to 850 workers working at the flyover last year, only 572 have returned to work in this year. The Minster said that it is the collective duty of the society to provide conducive atmosphere for such workers and projects.
The Minister said that government is planning to expand the connecting links across the flood channel in the city. He said that till date it was a solitary Rambagh Bridge that catered to the needs of huge population residing in these areas, but now government is taking steps to greatly expand the road and bridge network across the flood channel. He said that the tendering work on the road connecting Rajbagh with Indhira Gandhi road via flood channel Bund has been completed and work will start soon. Similarly consultants are working to identify and start new linkages across the flood channel as it will enable smooth movement of people and vehicles. The Minister said that the new roads will greatly help the people from entire South Kashmir entering the city centre and vice versa.
On the insistence of residents and commuters of Rawalpora, the Minster also visited the drainage project being completed in the area. The Minister said that the drainage and macadamisation of the road will be complete in one month period and it will greatly relive the problems of the area.
