The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 2,500 crore for infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu, Dec 17: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 2,500 crore for infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir, where militancy had brought economic and reconstruction activity to a complete halt in the 1990s.
This loan will be made available from next June, and would be in addition to a loan of Rs.1, 618 crore, that has already been provided and of which only about 48 percent has been spent. These funds are being utilised for construction of roads, water supply schemes and drainage system in various cities and towns.
“In short, Jammu and Kashmir has now almost Rs 3,500 crore for development projects,” a senior official engaged in finalising the loan details with ADB told IANS.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), which was supposed to have spent Rs 1,618 crore by June 2010, has spent only 48 percent in the past four years.
“The ADB has agreed to extend the loan utility period up to June 2011,” the official said.
The state had sought central government help for rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed during the peak of militancy when schools, colleges, tourism infrastructure and bridges were targeted in the 1990s.
Additionally, road connectivity, water supply schemes and drainage systems have also to be developed.
Over the past few years, implementation of various projects was hit by frequent changes at the helm of affairs at ERA, the executing agency.
IANS
Kulsoom Nizam
Dated 06 October 2009
Inaugration of Townhall Bridge at Budgam
Chief Minister Inaugurates Rs 2.90 crores bridge at Town hall Budgam
Hon’ble Chief Minister of J&K State, Jenab Omar Abdullah today inaugurated a bridge near town hall Budgam. The steel plate girder bridge at town hall Budgam, having a span of 1x26 meter(s) is one of major component's of up gradation and improvement of 37.6 Km road from Humhama to Raithan- Arizal via Budgam. The bridge has been completed by J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&K ERA) at a cost of Rs 2.90 crores.
The newly constructed bridge near town hall Budgam will provide reliable and all weather connectivity to huge population living in various blocks /towns of District Budgam namely Khansahib, Khag, Budgam, Beerwah, Magam, Chadoora, Charir-i-Sharief with District Headquarter and Srinagar and will also provide people living in different areas of District Budgam with better access to Health, Education facilities besides providing growers with improved market access for their agricultural and horticultural produce.Presently, J&K ERA has taken up work on 47 subprojects under transport sector which include upgradation & improvement of 25 road sub-projects (with cumulative road length of 436 Kms ) and construction of 22 bridges ( with over 1000 meters bridging section) .So far work on (6) bridges has been completed and three more bridges are expected to be completed by end of this financial year. Further the agency (J&K ERA) has already black topped about 205 kms of road length in Kashmir region.
Jenab G.M Saroori,Hon’ble Minister for Roads & Buildings & Mechanical Engineering Department,Jenab Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi –Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry,/Sheep Husbandry, Science and Technology, Jenab Javed Ahmad Dar, Hon’ble Minister of state for R&B, Mechanical engineering, Health and Medical education,Flouriculture,Horticulture, and Agriculture and Jenab Javed Mustafa Mir, Shri Devinder Singh Rana, Advisor to Hon’ble Chief Minister J&K State,Hon’ble MLA, Chadoora,District Development Commissioner, Budgam,SSP Budgam,Director Transport J&K ERA, Director Central, J&K ERA Project Manager, Transport, Kashmir,J&K ERA, and several senior officers of J&K ERA, district administration, senior officers of various other govt departments and prominent citizens of Budgam District were also present at the function
Muhammad Azhar ,PRO Kashmir
Dated 22 May 2009
Papchan Bridge on reputed Arin Nallah in Bandipore District left open shortly
Papchan Bridge Left open for Traffic
May 22, 2009: J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency Which is committed to build the infrastructure in the State of Jammu & Kashmir has done a major job by completing within stipulated time the important Papchan bridge on Srinagar –Bandipora-Gurez road. The bridge has informally been left open for vehicular movement much to the satisfaction of locals and other commuters .The bridge cost Rs. 4.13 crore .The single span bridge on reputed Arin nullah which is known for trout fish will go a long way to add to the ambience besides, the vital connectivity. The subproject under transport sector was carried out by Sofi & Company after standard tendering. Locals have appreciated the good work done by J&K, ERA. Mr. Tariq Ahmad Mir Director Kashmir, ERA while acknowledging the good work done by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Transport Kashmir which supervised the construction said that the bridge will be formally left open shortly. He also assured ERA will complete all the projects under execution in Kashmir division within the scheduled/extended time.
MLA Bandipore, Mr.Nizamuddin Bhat has said that the construction of Papchan bridge was a long pending demand which has been completed by ERA for which the organization deserves appreciation. He said that the bridge is a good addition to the infrastructure building of the State. Ends
Kulsoom Nizam Bhat
Dated 16 February 2009
Review Meeting of the progress of ADB assisted projects being executed by ERA
Press Release
Jammu 18,2008: Principal secretary /CEO J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency Sh.
Pankaj Jain took project review meeting along with officers of Asian Development Bank
& Department of Economic affairs who were on two day visit to Jammu for evaluation
of the progress of the ADB assisted projects being executed by J&K Economic
Reconstruction Agency in the State under J&K Multisector Project for Infrasrtucture
Rehabilitation and Jammu &Kashmir Urban sector Development Investment Programme
( JKUSDIP)here today at Institute of Engineers Gandhi Nagar .Visiting officers
expressed overall satisfaction over the physical progress of various projects and
suggested that a strong project team of engineers and consultants be placed in ERA for
sufficiently long length of time so that impediments are removed and projects are
completed in time. These engineers should be best available in the state , considering the
high financial outlays with ERA through ADB.
In the meeting major issues of concern were discussed . MR. Prodyut Dutt , INRM
ADB stressed for speedy settlement of Land Acquisition cases and forest clearance
wherever necessary . CEO ERA said forest clearance in most cases has already been
obtained by ERA . Besides, to overcome major bottlenecks and to speed up the process of
Land acquisition ERA has posted two independent Collector for Land Acquisition one
for Kashmir and one for Jammu.
Besides, CEO ERA meeting was attended by B.L Mattoo (Director General
Finance,ERA), Ms. Vineeta Gupta (Director Jammu ERA), Project Manager Transport
Jammu, Environmental Expert Jammu .
The visiting officers also conducted inspection of some of the subprojects under
execution in Transport and Urban Sector. Ends
Kulsoom Nizammudin, PRO PMU
Dated 02 December 2008
SITE INSPECTION OF ERA WORKS BY SH. C. PHUNSOG ADVISOR TO HEG AND CHAIRMAN ERA ON 02-12-2008
Sh. C. Phunsog, Advisor to HEG and Chairman ERA accompanied by Sh Pankaj Jain, Principal Secretary / Chief Executive Officer ERA conducted site inspection of the works under execution by ERA in Srinagar city
Sh
SITE INSPECTION OF ERA WORKS BY SH. C.
PHUNSOG ADVISOR TO HEG AND CHAIRMAN ERA ON 02-12-2008
Sh. C. Phunsog, Advisor to HEG and Chairman ERA accompanied by Sh
Pankaj Jain, Principal Secretary / Chief Executive Officer ERA conducted site
inspection of the works under execution by ERA in Srinagar city and its
suburbs today on December 02, 2008. Deputy
Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner SMC, Chief Engineer UEED,MD
JKPCC and other officers of line departments and ERA besides the contractors
and consultants accompanied Advisor (P) to Rangil
water supply scheme, JehnagirChowk
SKIMS road, Achan (approach) landfill site, NishatDalbund water supply
scheme NishatTaileyManzil water supply scheme, drainage schemes along the
National Highway, water supply pipeline at Bemina
bridge and bridges at Town hall and Naraspora.
Site inspection was
the follow-up of review meeting held by Advisor (P) on 01-12-2008 at SKICC Srinagar wherein the progress of
ERA works in Kashmir region was reviewed.In the meeting, Advisor emphasized upon the
line departments to complete the process of utility shifting as per the fixed
timelines and instructed ERA to provide encumbrance-free sites to contractors
and persuade them to ensure completion of the assigned jobs within the fixed
timelines. Further, Advisor (P) stressed upon the greater interdepartmental
co-ordination to facilitate the early resolution of impediments like land
acquisition and removal of encroachments besides other statutory permissions
from line departments / Beacon / NHAI etc. Earlier, Divisional Commissioner
Kashmir was requested to hold frequent co-ordination meetings to sort out
interdepartmental problems and impediments.
During the site
visit, the deadlines for completion of important sub-projects / sections /
stretches were fixed and on-the-spot instructions were issued to the line
departments, ERA officers and contractors to strictly abide with the fixed
timelines. Advisor further reiterated that slackness on the part of consultants
and contractors should be strictly cautioned against and stringent penalties
enforced as per terms of contract for any inordinate delay. Advisor expressed
his satisfaction on the execution of Nishat Dalbund
water supply scheme and wished the project to be completed well before the
stipulated time frame.
Dr. Neeraj Sharma
Dated 23 January 2008
Corrigendum JKUSDIP Srinagar/SWM/ 01
Sanitary Landfill Site Srinagar
Deadline for BID Extended to 14 FEB-2008, Sale of BID till 13-feb-2008, opening of technical bid 14-02-2008
Dated 04 January 2008
Inauguration of Mobile Enviromental LAB Jammu
Inauguration of Mobile Enviromental LAB
Sh. Pankaj Jain CEO ERA today inaugurated the Static & Mobile Environmental Laboratories established with Project Management Consultants.
CEO informed the august gathering that in order to minimize the adverse imapcts of devlopmental activities on environment, the Environmental Management Plans have been made an integral part of every contract. All the preventive measures stipulated in the contract have to be strictly complied by the contrcator. The Engineer (DSCs) supervise all the project activites and provide feedback to ERA. In order to ensure effective implementaion of EMP, Environmental Monitoring is of paramount importance. Depending upon the location, magnitude and duration of project, frequency of monitoring is fixed for each contrcat.
He further explained that utilizing the services of laboratories, ERA has already estabilshed a baseline at senstive receptors for air, water and noise environment. The baseline shall serve as the standard for ensuring the proper compliance of EMP. Given a chance if there is unaccepatble deviation of results from those estabilshed in baseline, contractors are accordingly insrtucted to comply with the stipulated safegurad norms.
CEO also apprised the press / electronic media about ERA's approach toawrads infrastructural development and requested the media to come up with relevant suggestions for better infrastructure. project activities
CEO concluded the programme with a special vote of thanks to press
Dr Neeraj Sharma
Dated 20 June 2006
The last date
The last date for sale and submission of bid documents
The last date for sale and submission of bid documents as advertised vide this office No:ERA/DK/109/2006/ 1432 -40 dated 19-12-2006 is extended as under:-
a) SALE of bid documents 2nd Feb 2007 upto 1600 Hrs.
b) Last date for submission of bids 3rd February upto 1500 Hrs.
c) Opening of Technical bids 3rd February 1530 Hrs.
Venue 3rd Floor Hotel Remano, Old Zero Bridge Srinagar
Project Manager Transport Kashmir
Dated 01 June 2006
No. PS/CEO/ERA/ /06
CEO, ERA directed that the Director (Transport) would prepare
CEO, ERA directed that the Director (Transport) would prepare succinct statement indicating the number of works proposed both for roads and bridges by the District Development Commissioner, the number of roads and bridges cleared by the Consultants as conforming to the schemes, the number of works tendered but not allotted, the number of works tendered and allotted and the number of works yet to be tendered indicating the reasons for the delay.
EO, ERA
Hilal Paray Director (Transport) Kashmir
Dated 01 June 2006
CEO,s Joining Message
CEO took a quick review
An amount of 358 M US$ equivalent to Rs. 1611 crores is available under the ADB funding scheme as loan and grant. Out of this amount Rs. 270 crores is grant which is part of the State Annual Plan and is also reflected in the Prime Minister's Programme.
The subject wise breakup of this amount is as follows:-
(Rs. in crores)
1 Roads and Bridges - Rs. 821.00
2 Urban Development/PHE - Rs. 279.87
3 Equipment - Rs. 297.87
4 Taxes etc. - Rs. 212.26
-----------
- Rs. 1611.00
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It was reported that work on 7 bridges in Kashmir and 4 bridges in Jammu is in progress.
40 bridges are to be taken up and 29 bridges are in the process of being identified and projectised by the Consultants. So far only one road has been allotted from Qazigund to Kulgam costing Rs. 16 crores and work will start shortly.
Work on the other roads to be taken up has not yet been started, since the list of all roads found feasible by the Consultant and conforming to the ADB norms is reported to have seen sent to the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister (Chairman ERA) for approval.
Only one work in PHE i.e. laying of water supply pipes from Rangeel to the Srinagar city (50 kms) costing Rs. 27 crores has been allotted.
It was reported that the bridges are being constructed by the JKPCC and the roads by contractors from outside the State who have competed in the tendering process.
Thus works costing Rs. 68 crores only have been allotted for execution which is just 4% of the total funds available.
The CEO, ERA directed to complete a succinct statement indicating the total number of roads and bridges proposed to be taken up, those identified by the Consultants as conforming to the ADB norms, the number of roads bridges tendered, the number allotted, the number of roads and bridges not tendered. The reasons for delay. It would be worthwhile to give the mileage of each road and span of each bridge.
The benefits that shall accrue i.e. the total population that shall be connected should also be indicated.
This information should be disseminated among the public so that the perception that things are moving slowly a ERA is erased.
Economic Reconstruction Agency 