JAMMU, Apr 28: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today laid stress on fast tracking mega projects being executed in the State under Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA).

The focus should be on time bound commissioning of projects to ensure benefits to the people in accordance with targeted dates", he said and expressed hope that the projects under execution will address the civic requirements to a greater extent.

Chairing the 15th meeting of Governing Body of ERA here, Mr. Omar said the ambitious projects taken up by ERA under ADB loan-1 are aimed at upgrading and improving the road connectivity, sewerage, drainage and drinking water supply facilities. He asked the ERA to maintain the quality of works under all circumstances and ensure judicious utilization of funds and regular monitoring of works at all levels.

The meeting was participated by the legislator Ashwani Kumar, Chief Secretary, S. S. Kapur, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Commissioner/Secretary Planning and CEO, ERA, B.B. Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Suresh Kumar, Commissioner/Secretary Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, Commissioner/Secretary R&B, Mehboob Iqbal and Chief Engineers and other senior officers of ERA.

In a power point presentation, the Commissioner/Secretary Planning and Development and CEO, ERA, B.B. Vyas briefed the meeting about achievements registered by ERA in various areas of development.

He said that 102 projects at a cost of Rs. 1108.85 crore have been launched under loan-1, Multisector Project for Infrastructure Rehabilitation (MPIR). Of this, an expenditure of Rs. 914 crore has been achieved so far.

He said in Transport sector, 304.5 kms of roads have been black topped and 10 bridges constructed in the State while 49 tube wells have been commissioned and 23 wells redeveloped. He said that over 345.8 kms of water supply lines have been laid covering Rangil and Doodganga water supply schemes.

The Governing Body approved widening of B.C Road to 8 lane width, in the first instance to facilitate the construction of proposed Flyover and directed ERA to work out a plan for handling traffic at Amphalla and Rehari chowks. It was also decided that ERA shall immediately start preparing Summary Appraisal Report (SAR) for Bikram Chowk to Satwari Flyover to be posed to ADB for execution under Tranche-2 of Loan-II (J&K Urban Sector Development Investment Programme).  The Governing Body was informed that 17 SARs for sub project under Tranche-2 of Loan-II have already been submitted to ADB and ADB is expected to field the Due-diligence Mission in July 2011.

The Chief Secretary directed the line departments to work in coordination with ERA so that impediments such as utility shifting, forest clearances and others are removed at the earliest. He further asked the line departments to take over the assets created by ERA so that the benefits can actually flow to the public.

The service conditions of the employees of ERA also came under discussion and it was decided to constitute a Committee comprising Commissioner/Secretary, PDD, Commissioner/ Secretary, Finance, Commissioner / Secretary, GAD and Commissioner/Secretary, ARI to frame and approve the Recruitment Rules of J&K ERA.