AD Bank to fund Rs. 350 cr Srinagar, Jammu flyovers

Srinagar, October 8 (Scoop News) –   The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to include construction of Rs. 350 crore Srinagar and Jammu flyovers under its loan-II assistance to the State.

            A joint team of the Union Department of Economic Affairs and Asian Development Bank agreed in principal to loan the twin flyover projects at a meeting with Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah here Saturday morning.

            The State Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) has got vetted the structural designs of these flyovers – one at Jahangir Chowk in Srinagar and the other at Bikram Chowk in Jammu – by IIT Rudkee. The traffic mobility study in relation to the construction of these projects has been conducted by RITES.

            The Chief Minister had taken up the issue of inclusion of these projects under ADB funding with the Union Finance Minister. In response to this, the Union Minister has sent a joint team of Department of Economic Affairs and Asian Development Bank to study the proposal of the State Government.

            The joint team visited Jammu and Srinagar and discussed various aspects of the issue with ERA and other concerned senior officers. The team expressed satisfaction about the preparedness of ERA to launch these projects and the rehabilitation model prepared for the affected people.

            The team led by Union Joint Secretary Department of Economic Affairs, Venu Rajamony and accompanied by ADB Country Director Hun Kim, Senior Urban Specialist Atsushi Kaneko and other members called on the Chief Minister this morning. The team briefed the Chief Minister about their discussions with the Chief Secretary, the CEO Economic Reconstruction Agency and other senior secretaries regarding the projects, and expressed their agreement in principal to include these projects in the loan-II of ADB.

            Underlining the need for these flyovers in Srinagar and Jammu cities, to help decongest traffic and facilitate plying of vehicles smoothly, the Chief Minister stressed on early launch of the projects. He said preliminary work of shifting of structures and rehabilitation of affected should be fast tracked.

            Omar Abdullah said that the process of implementation should secure livelihood of traders and befitting resettlement of the residents likely to be affected by the flyovers. “I am keen to see the construction work launched in such a model as would put least inconvenience to the people and help completion of the projects within the shortest possible time”, he told the ADB team and the State Economic Reconstruction Agency officers present in the meeting.

            The Chief Minister said that major projects like multi-tier parking complexes, urban drinking water supply schemes of greater magnitude and flyovers involving huge amounts should be posed for ADB funding. He expressed the hope that ADB would extend its support in these projects and be the partner in the development of the State.

            Expressing satisfaction over the strategy the State has initiated in utilizing the ADB assistance for various projects, the Union Joint Secretary, and the Country Head of ADB appreciated the frame work put in place in the State under ERA. “Your work model is an excellent example and can be emulated in other States”, they told the Chief Minister maintaining that ADB would be happy to work with the State for construction of flyovers and other projects.

            The Chief Minister said that the people of the State have benefited largely by ADB funding. He said many schemes in PHE, Transport and Sewerage sectors have been launched with ADB assistance. “We have tackled the shortage of drinking water in Jammu city to a greater extent by the help of ADB”, he said adding that the State would seek further assistance of the Bank to augment the water supply in Jammu city and construct multi-tier parking complexes, flyovers and similar projects in Srinagar and Jammu.

            The team showed keen interest in the Public Service Guarantee Act enacted in the State. And the Union Joint Secretary said that his ministry would like to organize a workshop in the State on the Act to highlight its efficacy and importance for prompt delivery of public services to the people.

            The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Chief Executive Officer, ERA, B. B. Vyas gave resume of the visit of the joint team of Ministry of Economic Affairs and ADB to the State. He also explained the progress of work on various ADB funded projects and highlighted the necessity of two flyovers in twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu.