Srinagar, Apr 3: Hard to believe but true: The Economic Reconstruction Agency has tendered works for Rs 16.787 crore for Srinagar city, and Rs 117.0757 crore for Jammu city out of total Rs 133.8627 crore ADB project signed last year. 
 Sources said the ERA has secured $ 64.9 million tranche-1 project from the Asian Development Bank.
 Sources said the ADB would provide Rs 2000 crore loan for Jammu and Srinagar cities but in different tranches (phases). The subsequent tranches would be signed between the ADB, Government of India, and J&K Government after substantial progress of first tranche.
 ERA has signed the loan under the J&K Urban Sector Investment Programme.  The total cost of the project is Rs 2000 crores which would be completed in different tranches. The first tranche project named 2331-Ind is to be completed by October 12, 2012.
 In the first tranche the ADB has provided 42.2 million US dollars and the Government of India $ 22.7 million loan. Source said the second tranche would be signed after ADB satisfies with the progress of first tranche.
 Under the first tranche the ERA has so far tendered five projects. It has tendered sanitary landfill site Srinagar on 606 kanals for Rs 14.587 crores and the work has been allotted to Ramsky Consortium. The second for the Srinagar city is complementing the first work. It is approach road to Achen Landfill Site. The total cost of this work is Rs 2.2 crore and it has been allotted to Gousia Road Constructions. “Basically this is single work which has been segregated into two,” sources said.
 In Jammu city the ERA has allotted works this way: Sewerage  Network Phase 11-Lot-1 for 67 kms of Rs 26.9137 crores. Sewerage Network Phase 11-Lot-2 for 80 kms of Rs 42.9155 crores, and sewerage network phase-11-lot 3 on 80 kms for Rs 47.2465 crores.
 Interestingly out of four Directors of ERA, three are from Jammu. Sources said the Directors seldom visit Kashmir and take keen interest in Jammu city only which is being indicated by the tender allotment itself. The Chief Executive of ERA also prefers his secretariat work rather than concentrate on discrepancies in tender allotments.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST