August 28th, Ramadan Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, today conducted a comprehensive examination of flagship activities in the District and a personal appraisal of all crucial portions between Banihal and Ramban as part of his efforts to monitor the progress of ongoing four-laning works on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The Chief Secretary’s directive to make the 66-kilometer road stretch between the Qazigund and Nashri tunnels two-way for both LMVs and HMVs which are below 4 axle was reiterated during his visit, and the Chief Secretary also instructed the Traffic Department that HMVs which are above 4 axle should only ply during the lean period, as per the department’s plan. Huge relief is anticipated since this would eventually eliminate the need to come to a stop at the Qazigund and Ban toll plazas.
R. K. Goyal, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home; Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner of the General Administration Department; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, Inspector General of Police Traffic; DIGs of DKR and Traffic Range Jammu; Deputy Commissioner of Ramban; and SSP of the National Highways and the Regional Office of the National Highways Authority of India were among the many senior officers present.
The Chief Secretary began his visit by checking in on the construction of the 2.3-kilometer Banihal Viaduct, which will allow traffic on the National Highway to avoid the village of Banihal. He stressed the need of the NHAI finishing the project before the end of the year. He also instructed NHAI to permanently pave the connection road leading to Banihal Market till the bypass was built.
In anticipation of the growing number of fruit-laden trucks travelling from the Kashmir valley to Jammu and the rest of the country, the Chief Secretary recently made a pit stop at Lambar, on the Banihal Motorway, and issued orders to convert the handover/takeover site of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra – 2023 into a truck holding area.
Dr Mehta has requested that the NHAI’s Regional Officer make sure that the 6.2-kilometer-long Sher Bibi viaduct, the 4-kilometer-long Tunnel T-4, the 4.2-kilometer-long Digdol twin-tube, and the additional two tubes of the Ramban flyover are all finished by their respective deadlines. He suggested that NHAI look into making it easy for HMVs to go back and forth between Tunnels T-3 and T-5.
After weeks of continuous rain in the first week of July this year for SANJY 2023, the road between T-3 and T-5 collapsed. NHAI constructed a makeshift ramp to get traffic moving again.
The Chief Secretary has also instructed NHAI to finish the T-5 viaduct and underpass at Magerkote before the end of the year. updating for the sake of staff and student security.
The District’s success in POSHAN Abhiyan, where it now ranks first in the UT of J&K, was lauded by the Chief Secretary. But he gave the Deputy Commissioner orders to coordinate with POSHAN, Health, and Education to find severely anaemic kids under the age of six so that they may get the help they need before it’s too late.
Subsequently, the Deputy Commissioner updated the Chief Secretary on the status of several road projects funded by PMGSY, PWD, and NABARD. The Chief Secretary emphasised the need of contractors following the Defect Liability Period and producing high-quality work. The Chief Secretary also checked in on the status of the MGNREGA, PMAY-G/U, and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, in addition to Ayushman Bharat/SEHAT.
The Chief Secretary concluded his evaluation by emphasising the District administration’s upcoming deadlines for completing the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Swachh Bahart Mission, the observable cleanliness of towns, the development of tourism and sports, and the fulfilling of health requirements. He also gave the Deputy Commissioner the responsibility of coordinating closely with the District Police to eliminate Nasha in every Panchayat in the District.
Dr. Mehta issued directives to all departments to join the e-office platform for real-time movement of official files, urging the officials to maintain an open and honest administration. He also told the Deputy Commissioner to have any problems with the onboarding process brought to the attention of the IT department as soon as possible.
The Deputy Commissioner recently reported to the Chief Secretary that all of the District’s 512 services, including the essential Revenue services, are now available entirely online. He went on to assure the Chair that everything necessary to launch Digital J&K Week 2023 on August 31 had been set in motion.
The Chief Secretary then met with members of the Ramban Municipal Council and the District Development Council, headed by Chairperson Dr. Shamshad Shan. The Chief Secretary received many memos from PRIs and promised swift action on the matters mentioned.
The Chief Secretary, as part of the Rehabilitation Council Scheme, gave out specialised motorised tricycles (Scooters) to the disabled recipients just before he left.
