Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Mar 4: Residents of Kraal-Khani in the Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have urged the district administration to improve road connectivity in the area on a fast-track basis.
Locals said that the absence of a proper road network has led to numerous challenges, particularly during emergencies.
“The condition of the existing road has deteriorated over the past 16 years, with repeated appeals for repairs falling on deaf ears. Although the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was sanctioned last December, the concerned department has yet to allocate the project to a contractor, citing unspecified reasons,” they said.
The residents have urged the authorities, including Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal, to intervene and expedite the commencement of road construction.
Nisar Lala, the Superintending Engineer of Roads and Buildings (R&B) department in Ganderbal, revealed that the project has already been approved under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The tendering process began in December, with multiple bidders participating. However, two of the bidders were deemed non-responsive.
Amidst the tendering process, one of the non-responsive bidders has issued a legal notice, which is currently under review. Lala stated that they have sought the opinion of a reputable chartered accountant in the valley to address the concerns raised in the notice.
Acknowledging the delay caused by the legal proceedings, Lala assured that the project would commence shortly and adhere to the NABARD guidelines, which stipulate completion within three years. He further noted that discussions with the Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal are ongoing, and once the legal matters are resolved, construction work will commence without delay.
