Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&KERA) today organized a workshop on “ Standard Safety and Safeguard measures at construction sites” at SKICC here today.

The workshop was organized as part of the capacity building component of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development investment Program (JKUSDIP) with an aim to make stakeholders aware about standard safety/ safeguard practices that are required to be taken at construction sites to ensure safety of work force executing work on ground.

Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA Thaseen Mustafa in his key note address stressed on the need to have foolproof safety/ safeguard mechanism for the work force executing work on ground. “I will impress upon my project implementation unit to ensure that adequate safety/ safeguard mechanisms are always put in place to ensure safety and well being of workforce” he said. He also said that construction companies / contractors with track record of zero accidents be incentivized to promote safety / safeguard measures are strictly adopted by the construction industry.

Vinod Sharma, Director Safeguards, J&K ERA in his welcome address said that implementation of safeguards measures is integral part of project implementation in J&K ERA. He said use of smart technology and provision of adequately trained safeguard staff is key to reducing number of untoward incidents at construction sites.

Alok Mengi, Director, Central, J&K ERA in his address delved at host of issues that workers in the construction industry face and said that workers safety and well being is to be seen as one of the main objectives of project implementation.
Roma Wani, honorary secretary, IRCS guest of honour on the occasion congratulated J&K ERA for organizing the workshop. “ Just few days back I happened to pass through the work site of Jehangir – chowk- Rambagh expressway corridor were work is being undertaken by J&K ERA, I was glad to see that all the workers were wearing helmets and other safety gears” she said while sharing her experiences of the project with the audience.
This was followed by technical sessions during which various experts in the field of Disaster Management, First Aid at work place and environmental safety made power point presentations on the topics. In the afternoon session experts along with the participants conducted the site visit of Jehangir Chowk- Rambagh expressway corridor wherein they gave some useful suggestions to further improve the workers safety/ safeguard mechanism at site.
Workshop was also attended by Shagufta Qazi, Director, Finance, J&K ERA, Basharat Malik, Project Manager, JKUSDIP, J&K ERA,Kashmir other senior officers and field staff of J&K ERA representatives/ volunteers of Indian Red Cross Society, academicians from Kashmir university, IMPA, officers from various govt departments like R&B, JKPCC, PHED, SMC, students from various engineering colleges in Srinagar, students from various schools besides design and supervision consultants of J&K ERA.

Shri Thaseen Mustafa , Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA today inspected progress of work on various infrastructure projects being executed by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&K ERA) in Srinagar city under the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) funded by Asian Development Bank.

During his extensive site visit which continued till late evening CEO ERA inspected progress of work on Jehangir Chowk- Rambagh expressway corridor presently underway in Bakshi chowk- Solina section of the project. Malik Basharat Ahmad , Project Manager, JKUSDIP, J&K ERA informed him that so far 114 piles have been laid in the sericulture crossing- solina section of expressway . CEO ERA also visted batching/ casting plant for the project at Kralpora were P.S girders shall be casted . He directed engineers to expedite work on construction of bed road across flood spill channel at Mehjoor nagar which would be also utilized for diversion of traffic. He also instructed P.M JKUSDIP, J&K ERA to comply with the instructions of District Development Commissioner, Srinagar during his site visit on 28-02-2014 for smooth flow of traffic on Batmaloo- Tengpora road.

CEO ERA also inspected progress of work on sanitary landfill site at Achan were he inspected the status of installed 120kl/day capacity leachate treatment plant, besides inspection of operation and maintenance of solid waste being dumped by SMC at Landfill. The Project Manager was instructed to ensure the completion of all the balance works viz final caping of cell, plantation and turfing of buffer zone by May 2014. He impressed upon engineers to work with zeal and enthusiasm to ensure that projects are completed on time .

Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&KERA) today on 8th, Feb,2014 organized a workshop on “Gender Sensitization” at SKICC , Srinagar.

A day long workshop was organized with an objective to sensitize J&K ERA staff and participants from various govt departments about importance of gender mainstreaming in developmental projects since gender planning is key to achieving gender equality.

Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA Thaseen Mustafa in his inaugural address underscored the need for gender-responsive urban planning as it would lead to gender equality and women’s empowerment. He stressed on the need for greater participation of women in planning process for attaining gender equity.

Vinod Sharma, Director Safeguards , J&K ERA in his welcome address said that “ gender action plans nowadays are an integral part of any infrastructure development projects funded by multilateral agencies and are key to achieving women’s participation in planning process” He emphasized the need for organizing more such workshops so that we are able to keep ourselves updated about gender sensitive approaches in infrastructure projects.

Alok Mengi, Director Central, J&K ERA, in his key note address stressed upon the need to have institutional capacity to plan, manage, implement, monitor, and evaluate gender inclusiveness in infrastructure projects. He said “to achieve gender equality it is imperative to integrate gender inclusive measures in operational work, institutional policies and strategies to ensure women can directly participate in and benefit from these projects”.
Mr Khilesh Chaturvedi , Gender specialist and one of the resource persons for the workshop made presentation on “ Understanding of Gender” in which various issues surrounding the concept of gender were highlighted like socio-cultural connotations of gender , commonly understood roles of gender in our societies, implications of changing gender roles in present times, scenario of women empowerment in India , its impact on poverty and education.
Dr. Aarti Nandi, ADB consultant in her presentation “Gender and Development in context of ADB” underscored the need for gender mainstreaming in developmental projects. She briefed participants about various steps of gender mainstreaming in developmental projects and shared her experiences of gender mainstreaming plan adopted during implementation of Kolkata Environmental Improvement Project (KEIP) which was funded by ADB . Sehar Iqbal, a development practioner also shared her “insights and experiences from the field “with the audience.
Short documentaries on the topic of “gender mainstreaming” prepared by some reputed international media organizations were also screened on the occasion.
Workshop was attended by more than 100 participants from various line departments like S.M.C, R&B, PHED, PDD, LAWDA and some other govt departments besides senior staff of J&K ERA, expert staff of J&KERA and field Staff of J&K ERA.

Work on Jehangir- chowk –Rambagh flyover continues in double shift despite harsh winter. The prestigious project which is estimated to cost Rs. 300 crore is being constructed by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency under its ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) funded by ADB (Asian Development Bank).

Presently work on the casting of piles is underway from sericulture crossing to Solina section of the project and confirmatory bore soil tests are also underway along the corridor.. So far work on 66 piles each having dimensions of 1.2 meter dia and depth of 20 -23 meters have been completed. Work is being undertaken in double shift with work starting daily early morning and continuing till late nights to ensure that all the components of each pile which include making the bore, fabricating of steel cage and then filling it with the concrete are completed in one go. Normally 245- 250 bags of cement are consumed on an average for each pile.. The process involves the use of very heavy machinery like heavy duty hydraulic Rigs and other heavy duty cranes.

Inspite of limited working corridor all efforts are being made to ensure that work on the project is undertaken with minimum inconvenience to public. Once completed the travel time from jehangir chowk- Rambagh crossing would be reduced to 3-4 minutes from the current time of 15-20 minutes (at peak hours). Besides it will result in the saving of the fuel to the tune of Rs 20 to 25 crores and also reduce the pollution levels due to the reduction in idling/ travel time of the vehicles.

Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&KERA) today organized a day long workshop on “ Road Asset Management System” at Institute of Hotel Management, Rajbagh, Srinagar.
The workshop was organized as part of the capacity building component of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Multi sector Project for Infrastructure Rehabilitation (MPIR) with an objective of making participants aware about the best practices being adopted in Road Asset Management System in the country.
D.D Gorka Director (Transport) J&K ERA while welcoming the participants briefed participants about the aims and objectives of the workshop.
Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA Thaseen Mustafa in his address said that roads are economic assets and need to be viewed as assets and managed scientifically. Thaseen stressed on the need for continuous skill up gradation of the engineers in the area of road management so that the public assets created by the use of precious public money are operated and maintained in a better way and also last long.
While inaugurating the workshop the Commissioner Secretary (PWD) Tanveer Jahan who was Guest of Honour on the occasion congratulated J&K ERA for organizing the workshop on the topic and emphasized the need for organizing more such workshops for engineers so that they are able to keep themselves aware about latest techniques of road management.. She also highlighted on the need for improved research and development in the area of construction materials in the state so that the environmental degradation and pollution is prevented.
During the day long workshop renowned scientists and experts in the area of Road Asset Management which included Dr. P.K Kanchan, Dr Devesh Tiwari of CRRI (Central Road Research Institute) made power point presentations on various aspects of the Road Asset Management.
Workshop included Power point presentation by Prashant Joshi, Dr Devesh Tiwari and Dr. P.K Kanchan on the topics of Road Asset management for J&K, Road Asset Management and input data requirement, Road information system and data collection technique in the first session . while as second session included presentation on topics of Road maintenance management system (RMMS), Aplication of HDM-IV software tol for development of (RMMS)
Workshop was also attended by Vinod Sharma, Director Safeguards J&K ERA, Naresh Langeh, Director Urban, J&K ERA, Alok Mengi, Director Central ,J&K ERA, Chief Engineer, PMGSY, M.D JKPCC and other senior engineers of PWD, PMGSY, J&K ERA, JKPCC and other line departments from Line departments like PWD. PMGSY. J&K ERA, JKPCC and other line departments Workshop also included brainstorming Session in which participants had interaction with the experts regarding various issues pertaining to road management.

The bridge completed with the cost of Rs 2.18 crores has 5.5 metre carriageway with 0.75 metre wide footpaths on either side, falls on 4th km of 6.58 km Singhpora-Kanihama road which has also been constructed by J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&K ERA) under the transport sector of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Multisector project for infrastructure Rehabilitation.

The 6.58 Km Singhpora-Kanihama road is a vital detour between Srinagar-Gulmarg and Srinagar –Baramulla road providing all weather connectivity to the population of around 30,000 people who inhabit many villages on both sides of the road stretch. It will also provide them with improved access to market their agricultural / horticultural produce besides providing them with improved access to the nearby districts of Baramulla, Budgam and Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&K ERA) has completed work on two mega storm water drainage projects along National highway byepass. The work on two mega projects was taken up by J&K ERA under the urban component of its MPIR (Multisector project for infrastructure Rehabilitation ) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Work on construction of drainage network of Pohru chowk-chanapora storm water drainage project and Bemina Chowk –Fruitmandi storm water drainage project had already been completed while as work on construction of pump house which includes providing and installation of mechanical & electrical equipments for pump house near chanapora bridge having design discharge of 1.15 Cumecs and on another pump house near Bemina Fruitmandi is being given finishing touches. This was stated to Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA during his site visit to the projects. Naresh Langeh, Director J&K ERA (Urban) informed CEO, J&K ERA that work on both of these projects has been completed and are ready for commissioning.

Langeh further said that Pohru chowk -Chanapora storm water drainage project will benefit population of more than 10,000 people living in the catchment area of the project spread over 1.10 sq.kms which includes residential areas like Alama Iqbal colony, Baghi-Mehtab, Beigh pora Garden lane, Chanapora parts of Murtaza colony, Sheikh Noorudin colony, Umar colony etc while as Bemina- Fruitmandi storm water drainage project with catchment area of 2.97 sq.km will benefit population of about 19,600 people living in the colonies like Parimpora, Sir Syed abad, Police colony,SDA colony, Shamsabad,Owais colony, Usmania colony, Al-Hamza Colony, Gulshan Abad, Mansoor colony etc.

Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA asked engineers to initiate formalities for earliest commissioning of both projects so that people living in the area are able to benefit from the projects before the onset of coming rainy season and get relief the frequent flooding which people living in these areas had to face during torrential rains and winter season.

During the four day visit to the valley the two member team visited sites of some proposed projects which include projects for construction of new water supply transmission mains to further augment the supply of safe drinking water in Srinagar city, construction of storm water drainage/ sewerage projects and some new projects for the improvement of urban transportation in the city.

The team visited site of proposed raw water transmission main from Rangil to Harwan which would involve laying of closed ductile pipeline from Rangil head works to Harwan Reservoir as an alternate to existing open raw water channel. The project would prevent pollution of raw water, prevent distribution losses, provide conditions for adequate flow of raw water besides reducing the need for pumping water from Dal Lake for Nishat Water treatment Plant thus help in saving the power.

The team also visited the sites for extension of storm water drainage schemes already constructed by J&K ERA under phase-1 along the NH bye pass during which the team also had an interaction with the locals who apprised them about the problems being faced by them due to water logging during rainy season. The team had a an elaborate discussions regarding the technical, social and environmental aspects of the proposed with Naresh Langeh, Director tranche-3 J&KERA,Alok Mengi,Director Central, J&K ERA, S.L Kapoor, Project Manager, JKUSDIP, Kashmir and other senior officers of J&K ERA who accompanied ADB team during the site visits.

The loan agreement to this effect was signed in New Delhi between Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary (Multilateral institutions), DEA (Department of Economic Affairs) Ministry of Finance on behalf of Government of India and Hun Kim, Country Director (ADB) (India) on behalf of Asian Development Bank. The related project agreements were signed by Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA on behalf of Govt. of J&K and Shaugafta Qazi, Director Finance,J&K ERA on behalf of J&K ERA.

Speaking after the signing ceremony Mitash said” The project will support the state to increase the availability of per capita safe drinking water from current level of 90 litres/day/capita to 135 litres/day/capita and will also help to reduce inner city traffic congestions thus resulting in positive economic impacts”.

Hun Kim, Country Director (India) (ADB) while terming J&K ERA as one of the best executing agency for ADB funded projects in India said that project also aims at providing for more efficient and accountable O&M (operation and maintenance) of water supply and sewerage services in the two capital cities and will also include a component for capacity development of for the staff and representatives of urban local bodies to enable them to provide better services.

Director Urban, J&K ERA Naresh Langeh today reviewed progress of Urban Projects being executed by J&K ERA in Srinagar city under the urban sector of its Multisector Project for Infrastructure Rehabilitation (MPIR) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB).

S.L Kapoor,Project Manager, Urban, J&K ERA, Kashmir informed him that under urban sector in Srinagar city ,J&K ERA had taken up work on 11 sub-projects which were estimated to cost Rs 260 crores out of which work on 3 major mega water supply schemes has already been completed and commissioned and has resulted in much needed improvement and augmentation of safe drinking water in the Srinagar city and directly benefitted 8 lakh people living in Srinagar city.

Giving details about storm water drainage schemes being executed by J&K ERA in uptown Srinagar,Kapoor said that work on one namely Rawalpora-Tengpora sub-project stands already completed while as work on construction of Pohru chowk – Chanapora bridge and Fruitmandi – Bemina Chowk sub-projects has been substantially completed.

Later Director, Urban, J&K ERA conducted site inspection of various ERA executed urban projects in Srinagar city which included some drainage and water supply projects. He also inspected progress of work on construction of zero discharge sedimentation tanks at Doodhganga, Nishat and Rangil Water treatment plants which are being constructed to prevent the pollution of water bodies due to discharge of untreated backwash water.

Director ERA impressed upon engineers, consultants and contractors to work with team spirit to ensure systematic and earliest possible completion of works.