Srinagar, May 6: Gone are the days when public facilities like government buildings and bridges would be inaugurated after completion of projects. Since last year, these ribbon cutting ceremonies in Srinagar look nothing beyond much hyped photo sessions for media publicity as incomplete amenities were thrown open for public use.
 Interestingly, in the garb of inauguration celebrations, the government seems to have tried to skirt the chronic delay in projects, which couldn’t be completed, even after missing of several deadlines.

THE CHRONOLOGY
 On September 7, 2011, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah inaugurated the residential block of Hajj House at Bemina. Officials said the block has been constructed at a cost of about Rs.6.34 crores on an area of 45192 sq. feet. It is having the facility of dining hall for 260 persons, 13 dormitories for 208 people, double bed rooms for 36 persons, two prayer halls, besides other facilities.
 But at the time of inauguration the much needed escalators, health centre and departure lounge were incomplete. An official handout released on the day confirmed it saying: “The Chief Minister directed the executing agency to ensure completion of lifts of residential block, health centre and departure lounge within the prescribed time frame.”

THE FLYOVER DELAY
 On August 27, 2011, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah inaugurated the much awaited flyover at Hyderpora in presence of the other government top brass including junior minister for Home and the Housing and Urban development department, Nasir Sogami. Here again the inauguration was of an incomplete structure.
 Even after missing eight deadlines, only one of the tubes of the flyover are in place. This was despite the fact that the 18 month project is incomplete even after six years.
 But this operational tube too sans the requisite facilities as the streetlights are yet to be made operational while there are no caution signs for the two way traffic on the single tube, making the drive accident prone.
 Interestingly, while addressing a function on flyover inauguration, the CM said: “Fast tracking work on various road projects and other development programmes has been the dividend of peace prevailing in the State during the current season.”

THE SMHS CAUSALITY
 Last year in July, the Chief Minister inaugurated the new causality block of the SMHS Hospital at Karan Nagar.
 The four storeyed building was scheduled to benefit the people. But till now, only the lower two floors have been made operational while the remaining are incomplete for public use.

THE DALGATE BRIDE
 The proposed bridge at Dalgate which aimed at decongesting the traffic in the tourist hub by widening of the road couldn’t be couldn’t completed even after missing of several deadlines.
 Finally in May 2011 the bridge was inaugurated but again incomplete.
 But seemingly in jugglery of words the authorities tried to skirt incomplete work saying the work was divided into two phases.
 An official handout of May 9 said: “Minister of State for R&B, Javed Ahmad Dar, Monday, threw open first phase of Dalgate viaduct, completed at a cost of Rs. 9.07 crore. The overall estimated cost of the project is Rs.  22.39 crore and Rs. 17 crore stands expended on the project so far.”
  MLA, Habakadal, Shamima Firdous, Chief Engineer, R&B Nazir Ahmad, Managing Director, JKPCC Tehsin Mustaffa and other senior
officers of R&B and JKPCC were present on the occasion, the handout added.

GOVT VIEW
 Mubarak Gul, Advisor to Chief Minister while commenting over the issue said “government’s top priority was to make the facilities available for the people at an earliest than unnecessarily make them wait.”
 Citing example, Gul said: “As one of the tubes of the flyover was fit for vehicular traffic why should have we made them wait till the complete structure would be ready?”
 “We aspire to provide public facilities as early as possible.”

INAUGURATION MANIA!
 The coalition government seems to be obsessed with inaugurations to make it big for hype, come what may. Sample this:

*Last year Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla reportedly inaugurated a toilet. Bhalla is believed to have done the honours atleast twice in the year.

*In 2010, a Receiving Station at Jawahir Nagar was inaugurated by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah himself even though such facilities, as per observers,  in the past used to be “simply switched on” by Power Development Department officials of the rank of no big than the Chief Engineer.

*Prior to that Tourism Minister, Nawang Rigzin Jora and his MoS Nasir Sogami inaugurated a booking counter for houseboats at Srinagar International Airport.

*In 2011 Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon inaugurated a car washing facility at a government run automobile workshop.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 May 2012 00:00:00 IST