J&K Govt considering metro services for Jammu & Srinagar cities

            Jammu February 10(Scoop News) – Jammu and Kashmit Government is working on a proposal to start Metro services in the twin capital cities of state. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made this announcement while presiding over a review meeting of Jammu District Development Board here this evening.

 Omar Abdullah said that initially traffic analysis will be conducted through RITES and later Delhi Metro Railway Corporation will be approached for preparing detailed DPRs which will include the feasibility and financial requirements for the realization of this project, on the basis of the analysis.

            The Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Medical Education, R. S. Chib, Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla, Political Advisor, Devinder Rana, Legislators, Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Vijay Bakaya, Jugal Kishore, Sukhnandan Choudhery,Ajay Sadhotra,Ashwani Kumar, Yash Paul Kundal, Bimla Luthra, Gharu Ram Bhagat, T.S. Wazir, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,  Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Principal/ Secretary Planning & Development BB. Vyas, Chairman, Legislative Council, S. Arvinder Singh Micky , Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Mayor, Jammu Municipality, Kavinder Gupta, besides senior officers of District Administration were present.

            The Chief was informed that 69 per cent of total outlay of Rs 73 crore has been expanded till January end. Keeping in view the requirements, in Jammu, on account of roads, water supply, he said he is confident that the district would meet 100 per cent expenditure by the end of the financial year. He said NABARD loan has already been released for district Jammu, adding that LIC loan, for PHE projects is in the pipeline and directed the District Development Commissioner, Jammu to start expenditure under these heads as well. The Chief Minister advised all the district officers to execute all works without compromising on quality. He said that works should be physically executed and he will not like that for expenditure of funds, only cement and steel is purchased and dumped in stores without actually utilizing the same on the ground.

             Abdullah said that synergy is required between various departments, including PDD, UEED, PWD, ERA and other developmental departments. He said, he will be holding a meeting of MLAs on February 22 to seek their suggestions on this issue.

             Omar asked the District Development Commissioner to adopt a mechanism for monitoring execution of works and utilize the remaining funds upto mid March thereafter he advised stepping up of the disposal of pending land acquisition cases. He said that sufficient money is being provided to Jammu under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and as such these funds should be utilized properly and work on the projects should be expedited. 

            On clearing the liabilities, the Chief Minister said that money would be provided for the same provided the DDC certifies the work, cost incurred on the projects and also apprise about the circumstances in which the liabilities were created. The DDC will also have to ensure that there is no duplication of expenditure and asked the officers to start the work only after seeking necessary approval.

            During the meeting, the Chief Minister announced additionality of Rs 2 crore each for electrical maintenance and rural roads of Jammu district, Rs 50 lakh as forest land compensation, Rs 16.17 lakh as margin money, Rs 10 lakh for community hall at Bishnah, Rs 15 lakh for providing sports facilities at Raipur Domana and Rs 43.95 lakh for Sarai at Jihri.

            Expressing concern over the dis-organized and mismanaged Jammu bus stand, the Chief Minister said that being prime location it needs to be developed on modern lines with state of art facilities. He asked the Deputy Chief Minister to get a DRP prepared for further action at the appropriate level.

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