Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Jul 20: As many 924 kilometers of road length and 53 bridges sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-1 and 11 are awaiting completion, official documents reveal.
Documents accessed by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Government of India last month told representatives of Jammu and Kashmir that 400 roads of 907 kilometers and 53 bridges under PMGSY-1 and 24 roads of 17 kilometers under PMGSY-11 are pending to be completed.
The issue came up for discussion during the pre-empowered committee meeting held on June 09, 2023 to discuss the project proposals of bridges for PMGSY-111 submitted by the UT Government of Jammu & Kashmir.
The meeting chaired by additional secretary (Rural Development) and Director General, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) was attended by senior officials of Centre and J&K government.
According to minutes of the meeting, Jammu & Kashmir Government was asked if the works would be completed by the extended timeline i.e. March 2024.
However, J&K Government informed the Centre that, under PMGSY-1, 80-85 kilometer roads and six bridges may not get completed due to non-issuance of forest clearance.
“Other works will be completed by November 2023,” the record note quotes J&K government’s representative saying.
In the meeting, the Jammu & Kashmir Government was also told to increase the pace so as to achieve the target of 2023-24—(KNO)
