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JAMMU – Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday, where Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) CEO Aijaz Asad provided an update on the Jhelum & Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP). The review follows the World Bank’s decision to extend the project timeline for completing the remaining works.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary of PWD, Commissioner of SMC, Chief Engineer of R&B Central Kashmir, and other officials.
The Chief Secretary directed ERA to closely monitor ongoing projects to ensure timely completion without any delays. He stressed the importance of maintaining quality standards and instructed the R&B Department to take legal or penal action against defaulting contractors, including blacklisting them from future contracts.
He specifically emphasized the need to complete the 130-bedded additional block at Government LD Hospital within the extended timeframe. CEO ERA assured that the new block would significantly enhance healthcare services and patient capacity, with progress being closely tracked for timely completion.
Regarding five pending bridge projects in North Kashmir, PWD Secretary Bhupinder Kumar informed that Letters of Award (LoA) have been issued for bridges at Wahidina, Waza Mohallah, Shrakwara, and Wagoora, with completion expected by December 2025.
For the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) at Humhuma, officials reported that the dormitory, service block, and warehouse have been completed. However, delays in procuring electromechanical components led to contract termination. The remaining work is now being re-tendered, with completion expected in seven months at a cost of ₹40.16 crore.
The meeting was also informed that the construction of a 160-bedded block at Bone & Joint Hospital is fully complete, with procurement of additional equipment set to conclude by the end of this month.
Commissioner SMC Owais Ahmad reported that out of 49 dewatering stations, 45 are fully functional, while two (Khan Colony and Surnai Mohalla) were dropped and two others (Zero Bridge and Peerbagh) foreclosed. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for these stations, completed at a cost of ₹32.12 crore, has been handed over to SMC for efficient monitoring and control of dewatering operations in Srinagar.
It was noted that a total of ₹1,547.5 crore has been spent on JTFRP so far, with the World Bank reimbursing ₹1,465.86 crore. The project’s deadline has now been extended until August 31, 2026, to allow completion of pending works that were not finished by December 2024.
