Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 19 Dec: Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed new and ongoing National Highway projects within the state at the Secretariat, here, today. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary held detailed discussions on various National Highway projects and expressed deep displeasure over the sluggish progress of the works.
Bardhan expressed strong resentment regarding the fact that the proposal for the Pithoragarh-Bageshwar NH 309A National Highway construction, which was approved in FY 2022-23, has not yet been sent to the Government of India. Fixing accountability for this negligence, he directed that adverse entries be given to the officers responsible. He also ordered a special adverse entry for the Executive Engineer for negligence in uploading data required for forest and wildlife clearances for the Kathgodam-Nainital National Highway construction, which was sanctioned in March 2024.
The CS also asked that works be expedited through regular monitoring of all projects at various levels. He instructed that review meetings for pending projects, chaired by the District Magistrates, must be held regularly. He emphasised that all the related departments must clearly highlight their problems and issues prominently.
Furthermore, Bardhan issued instructions to accelerate the 3(g) and 3(d) proceedings for various roads. Expressing dissatisfaction over the delay in the marking and felling of trees for road construction, he directed that the process must begin by 31 December. He also stressed on the need for continuous coordination and regular follow-up of projects with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The CS stated that all the ongoing projects must also be fast-tracked. He also took stock of the progress of the NHAI Kotdwar Bypass, Jhajhra-Asharori, Haridwar-Najibabad and the Dehradun-Delhi Expressway. He ordered that work on all projects be accelerated to ensure completion within the stipulated timeframe.
Among those present on the occasion were Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Secretary C Ravishankar, Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar, PCCF SP Subuddhi and other senior officials.
