Authorities sit on Qamarwari-Shalteng road widening
As the government has failed to complete Qamarwari-Shalteng road widening from last several years, the Commissioner Secretary Roads and Buildings department Rohit Kansal on Sunday passed the buck on Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Samoon saying it is his job to review progress of the work.
“You cannot ask this question to R&B department. If the work on the project is slow, I can say it is the job of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to see the progress. Our job is to see if there is any requirement of funds, resources for which we are committed,” Commissioner Secretary R&B Rohit Kansal told local news agency KNS“If they need funds, we will release it. But first the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir should check progress of the project,” Kansal added.
Work on the widening of 2.7 km Qamarwari-Shalteng road started in 2010. It was approved for completion at Rs 13.79 crore by July 2012. Later, the deadline was extended by another year which the authorities missed too.
According to the sources acquisition of land along the stretch has been one of the impediments in the way of project completion.
They said 89 residential and commercial structures were coming in the way of widening of the road. These structures are presently housing 50 families and 239 shopkeepers.
As per the R&B department, the valuation of these structures has also been done and it needs Rs 9.56 crore as compensation cost for the land—Rs. 6.56 crore is required for acquisition of structures and Rs three crore for land compensation. Besides, Rs 23.9 crore is also required for rehabilitation of 239 shopkeepers at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per business unit. Sources said that against the huge financial requirement of Rs 33.46 crore, just Rs one crore has reportedly been released. (KNS)
