Srinagar, Jul 16: The wait is finally over as Jammu and Kashmir roads are set for a massive macadamisation process, with contractors deciding to participate in the tendering process after receiving assurances from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
According to President of the J&K Hot Mix Plant Association, Bashir Ahmad Khan, the contractors met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah a few days back and discussed threadbare the issues about them. After assurances from the Chief Minister, the contractors chaired a meeting at the Plant Association Office, Nowgam, in which 82 plant owners participated. “We decided to participate in the tendering process now as we have got assurances from the Chief Minister, as he termed our demands genuine,” Khan said.
Khan added that a unanimous consensus was made that they will submit the tenders as the choice of contractor. “We will participate in the tendering process, and after a few days, the process will end, and soon the macadamisation will start across the region,” he said.
The decision was taken after a tender deadlock that continued for nearly two months following the macadamisation plan unveiled by the government in May this year. In May, the government cleared a plan estimated at around Rs 223 crore, with a proposed allocation of nearly Rs 155.83 crore for the macadamisation process. However, as soon as tenders were floated, contractors showed little interest, claiming that the rates mentioned were not favourable given the recent hike in rates following the Middle East crisis.
On July 3, Rising Kashmir reported that the government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had set a deadline of one week for the resolution of the issue.
The potholed condition of roads across Jammu and Kashmir has been pushing commuters to face tough situations on a daily basis, with frequent traffic congestion at multiple places, especially in the interiors of Srinagar City.
Aamir Ahmad, a resident from Habba Kadal, said it has been a year since the road in his locality was dug for drainage and pipeline works, but the delay in macadamisation has taken a heavy toll on the local populace. “The potholed road is not only damaging our vehicles, but the dust emanating from it is also affecting our health as well,” he said.
Locals demanded immediate action and wanted the government to macadamise the roads at the earliest. With contractors now set to participate in the tendering process, the macadamisation works are expected to commence soon, bringing much-needed relief to commuters across the Valley.
