Dr. Raghav Langer , Chief Executive Officer has stressed that any further delay on part of the contracting agency will not be tolerated and shall be dealt with severely. The construction agency has been directed to strictly adhere to the timelines given for the completion of the project. CEO, ERA has directed the contractor to ensure that the 2nd phase of the mega project from Rambagh to Aloochi Bagh is completed by 31st , Dec, 2018 while as 3rd phase from Allochi –Bagh to Jehangir Chowk be completed structurally by 15th March , 2019 with black topping to be completed by 15th, May, 2019.

Dr. Raghav said that any dilly-dallying tactics on part of the contracting agency shall lead to further penalization in accordance with the contract clauses and black listing of the construction agency. He added that work on the construction of grade separator at TRC, Srinagar has also been put on the watch list and performance of the construction agency is being closely scrutinized and similar penal action would follow if the work on project is not expedited and timelines given to the contractor are not met.

During the meeting it was proposed that two pronged approach needs to be adopted for the purpose by initially setting up the Emergency Operations Centre on Cloud based platform which will later on be further strengthened by setting up of (2) physical Emergency Operations centre at Srinagar and Jammu and subsequently by setting up of EOC’s at all the district levels. However the Cloud based EOC will continue to support the physically established EOC;s and will also serve as backup in case of emergencies’. The proposed EOC will be equipped with the all the necessary equipments like Desktop computers, printers and manned by disaster management and I.T professionals. The EOC’s will operate on the basis of customized software that will have important emergency response features like organizational registry, tracing the missing persons, tracking the displaced families, shelter tracking, volunteer management etc.

CEO, ERA directed the concerned officers to obtain the list of registered hardware / software vendors from the department of I.T and also directed the Disaster Risk Assessment consultancy of JTFRP to come up with detailed costing for the project and also prepare the further road map for the project at an earliest.

The meeting was also attended by Iftikhar Hakim, Director Planning and Coordination, JTFRP, Khalid Iqbal, Director Technical, JTFRP, Aamir Ali, Director Disaster Management and other officers’ of JTFRP and ERA

Giving out details about the progress of Public Works component of the project it was informed by the nodal officer, PWD, Kashmir that the component involves the sub-components of Health, Higher Education, High education and rehabilitation of (5) fire service stations. He said under the health sub-component Rs 89 crores have been earmarked for the construction of state of art 120 bed capacity additional block at Bones and Joints Hospital, Barzulla, Srinagar which will be equipped with the latest medical equipments, operation theatres, HVAC system, fire and maintenance and other latest facilities.. Under the Higher education sub-component Rs 34 crores have been allocated for the construction of additional blocks at Govt Degree College, Bemina, GDC Anantnag, GDC Bijbehara, Amar Singh College Srinagar and works worth Rs 23 crores have already been tendered. It was also said that under high education 53 schools are proposed to be constructed across the Kashmir valley for which an allocation of Rs 35 crores has been kept and tenders for construction of 7 schools have already been issued and tenders for remaining shall be issued by end of Nov, 2018.Further 8 Bridges are proposed to be constructed in Kashmir for which an allocation of Rs 70 crores has been kept and tenders for two bridges have already been floated. Similarly 12 road projects having an approximate length of 117 Kms are proposed to be constructed in Kashmir Division.

Sudhir Shah Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu while giving out details about Jammu division said that 24 school buildings are proposed to be constructed in Jammu division for which an allocation of Rs 15 crores has been kept and tendering process for these will be completed by 15th, Nov, 2018.He further said that 17 road projects having a cumulative length of 176 kms are also proposed to be taken up.

CEO, ERA directed the officers present in the meeting to expedite the process of preparation of due diligence documents so that works are tendered out and executed on ground at an earliest. He also directed that due care be taken of the architectural and heritage aspects while preparing designs for projects like construction of additional blocks at Amar Singh College so that the newly constructed blocks merge aesthetically with the existing buildings in the campus. It was further directed that EOI (Expression of Interest) for assessment of structural stability and detailed design for retrofitting of (5) fire stations in Kashmir and some other structures be prepared and issued at an earliest.

Meeting was also attended by Sami Arif, Chief Engineer,R&B Kashmir, Iftikhar Ahmad Hakeem Director Planning and Coordination JTFRP, Khalid Iqbal Director Technical, JTFRP, Ajaz Ahmad Bukhari, Executive Engineer, division 2nd ,Nodal officers of Bone and Joint Hospital, L.D Hospital among others

The team upon its arrival in Srinagar attended the meeting at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar which was held under the chairmanship of Shri Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring Department who apprised the visiting team about the progress achieved on Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery .Dr. Raghav Langer, Chief Executive Officer, JKERA also attended the meeting.

Later in the day Dr. Raghav Langer chaired the meetings wherein the visiting team was apprised about the progress achieved on Urban Flood Management and Restoration and Strengthening of livelihood components of the JTFRP. The meetings were also attended by Peerzada Hafizullah, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Javid Iqbal, Managing Director, J&K Industries and Commerce department which form the project implementation units of JTFRP along with the Public Works Department. The meetings were also attended by other senior officers of JTFRP unit of ERA.

J&K ERA has achieved 97% physical progress on the Rawalpora- Chanapora mega storm water drainage project which is being constructed by J&K ERA with cost of Rs 165 crores under its Asian Development Bank funded JKUSDIP (Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme).

This was informed to Dr. Raghav Langer, CEO, ERA during his visit to the site. Zulfiqar Beigh, Project Manager, Hydraulic , JKERA said that the project will benefit the catchment area of 284.75 hectares along the National highway byepass which include localities from Rangreth to Chanapora bridge and will benefit around 60,000 souls living in the localities. He said work on civil components of laying of main and sub-main drainage network has already been completed as well as construction of (03) main pumping stations along with the installation of electromechanical components which are equipped with submersible pumps each having discharge capacity of 25 cusecs, 40 cusecs and 37 cusecs respectively which can work even in inundated conditions. These include one at Afandi bagh for zone I of the catchment area and main pumping stations at Madina Enclave for zone II and third MPS at Alamdar colony for zone III of the catchment while as work on one IPS (Intermediate pumping station) near check yayil near which is required for zone III of the project couldn’t be taken up so far due to some land acquisition issues.

CEO, ERA directed the concerned officers to immediately submit the formal proposal regarding the land acquisition issue involved in the construction of intermediate pumping station so that the issue is taken up with the concerned quarters for its resolution. CEO, ERA also directed consultants to prepare the proposal for automation of the storm water drainage projects completed by ERA through SCADA system so far so that same may be proposed in the forthcoming JKIDP (Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Project) funded by Asian Development Bank.

During inspection of work on Jehangir –Chowk –Rambagh flyover project . Showkat Wani , Director Kashmir , JKERA informed that under phase-I of the project etween comprising of Amar Singh college to Barzulla Bridge has already been completed in May , 2018 and one way traffic on the stretch is plying which has decongested the traffic on the said road stretch underneath to a great extent and presently work on 2nd phase of the project between Rambagh to Allochi-Bagh stretch has been further accelerated and more than 80% physical progress has been achieved. CEO ERA directed contractor to ensure that phase –II of the project is completed and made motarable by 31st Dec, 2018.While giving out details about 3rd- phase of the project between Amar Singh College to Jehangir Chowk it was informed that as on date 50% progress has been achieved and structural component of the phase is expected to be completed by March-2019.

Later CEO, ERA inspected progress of work on grade separator near TRC where he was informed that 60% physical progress has been achieved on the project as a whole and presently work on construction of ramps on Sonawar- Linz and JK Bank Corporate limbs are in full swing.CEO ERA directed contractor to mobilize additional man and machinery to ensure the completion of work by Dec, 2018 and March, 2019 respectively for both limbs.

It was also directed by CEO that concerned engineers and consultants of ERA will on daily basis monitor the progress of these works in case of laxity on part of the contractor penalty and other penal provisions in the clause shall be invoked . The CEO reiterated that these projects be completed as per the agree timelines as already excessive dealy has happened in the completion of these vital projects.

The concerned contractor for the flyover project raised the issue of diversion of traffic between Naaz Crossing to Jehangir Chowk for undertaking works in this stretch regarding which the CEO directed ERA officials to submit a detailed site plan within timelines so that the same can be taken up with IGP Traffic, Srinagar.

Besides Director Kashmir, JKERA, Sheikh Javed, Project Manager, Transport , J&K ERA. Team Leader, DSC and other officers of JKERA and consultants accompanied CEO ERA during the site visit

The Officer has wealth of experience in the area of infrastructure projects and has also served as Chief Executive Officer, PMGSY, Programme Director of Namami Gange, Project Director for World Bank funded Peri- Urban Water Supply Programme in Uttrakhand. On assuming the charge of Chief Executive Officer, JKERA, Dr Raghav was accorded a warm welcome by officers and staff of J&K ERA.

CEO. ERA was briefed about the organizational structure of JKERA. Later in the day CEO ERA was chaired a meeting wherein he was informed about physical and financial progress of various mega projects which are presently being executed by J&KERA under its ongoing Jammu Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). Meeting was also attended by Showkat Wani, Director, Kashmir, JKERA, Suresh Kaul, Director, Finance, JKERA, Zulfiqar Beigh Project Manager, Hydraulic, Kashmir, Javed Sheikh, Project Manager, Transport, Kashmir and other senior officers of JKERA

A meeting to chalk out modalities for introduction of mobile –app based “Bicycle Sharing” which is considered to be an eco-friendly and healthy solution to de-congest the traffic in most of cities globally was held here today under the chairmanship of Farooq Ahmad Lone, Chief Executive Officer, J&KERA/Srinagar Smart city Limited.

During the meeting which was attended by Anuj Malhotra , Traffic Advisor to Govt of J&K Abdul Majeed Raina,Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, Riaz Ahmad Wani, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation , Satish Razdan, Director, ERA, Kashmir, and other senior officers of Traffic police and district administration it was informed that “Bicycle Sharing “ is being introduced in Srinagar city as a component of Srinagar Smart City Mission.

Experts in the field gave a detailed presentation on the concept of “bicycle sharing” and said that bicycle sharing operates through a mobile application which users are required to download on their mobile phones and enter the plate number displayed on each bicycle provided at the bicycle bay to receive the passcode to unlock the bicycle. On reaching the destination users would have to park the bicycle in the designated parking areas near their destination and lock the bicycle. The concept works on the economic principle of sharing of same resources at multiple times and aims at replacing the car with bicycle for urban mobility as doing same would pave way for traffic de-congestion, decreased levels of emission of harmful carbon dioxide and SO2 gases that are major contributors to air pollution besides promoting the healthy lifestyles amongst the city dwellers.

It was decided that a complete recce of the Srinagar city will be conducted by the officers of SMC, SDA,SSCL, along with the experts to work out the most feasible model to be taken up for implementation of the concept.

Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (JKERA) has spent Rs 27.28 crores on the up gradation and upliftment of 23 drainage pumping stations on right and left sides of river Jhelum in Srinagar City.

This was informed by Director Kashmir , JKERA , Satish Razdan to Chief Executive Officer , JKERA ,Farooq Ahmad Lone who today chaired the meeting to review physical and financial progress of the sub-project which is being undertaken by JKERA under the ongoing JKUSDIP (Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment programme ) funded by Asian Development Bank. Razdan said work on 8 drainage pumping stations located at Govt Polytechnic ( Gogji bagh) Govt Silk Factory ( Rajbagh) Golf course, Tengpora, Alouchi bagh, Abiguzar, Bishembar Nagar and Barbarshah has been completed. While as 75%- 90% physical progress has been achieved on remaining drainage pumping stations.

Chief Executive Officer, JKERA directed Project Manager (Hydraulic), JKERA to immediately take up the process of handing over of the completed pumping stations to the concerned line department and also ensure the completion of work on remaining pumping stations by the targeted dates.

The sub-project involves revamping of these pumping stations by installation of new electro-mechanical equipments along with the necessary civil works that were necessitated due to the raised HFL ( high flood level) in Srinagar city due to the floods of 2014 during which the said pumping stations were badly damaged. Meeting was also attended by Mohammad Maqbool Wani, Project Manager,(Hyd), JKERA, Parvaiz Maqbool Fazli, Team Leader DSC and other officers of JKERA .

Satish Razdan , Director Kashmir , JKERA informed that as on date 80% progress has been achieved on the construction of prestigious Jehangir chowk- Rambagh expressway corridor . He said that work on 1st phase of the project i.e Amar singh college – Barzulla Bridge sector has been completed structurally and construction of crash barriers in the sector has also been completed while as work on allied components like laying of electric cables, erecting of view cutters and erection of electric poles for illumination of the corridor and joining of expansion joints and construction of downward ramp towards Natipora etc is underway in full swing. He said that similarly work on other sectors of the coveted project is also underway were work on laying of working piles, pile caps, pier shafts , erection of girders and laying of deck slabs is underway.

While reviewing the progress of work on construction of Mehjoor Bridge and Grade separator at TRC, CEO ERA was informed that out of the total of 3 deck slabs in Mehjoor Bridge two have already been laid while as 3rd slab was being laid today and work on construction of approach road, retaining walls and joining of expansion joints would be started soon. With regard to the construction of Grade separator at TRC it was given out that formidable progress has been achieved on some of the components of the work like construction of working piles, pile caps, pier shafts and pier caps and pilling work is underway on limbs of the grade separator towards Linz and JK Bank corporate office and now the focus is being given on laying of pre-stressed girders and steel girders and other allied works.

CEO ERA later conducted the site visits to all the three sites and directed contractor to strictly adhere to the quality parameters and also mobilize more men and machinery to ensure that works are completed by the targeted dates.

Besides Director Kashmir, JKERA, Parvaiz Maqbool Fazli, Team Leader, DSC and other officers of JKERA and consultants accompanied CEO ERA during the site visit