Chief secretary B B Vyas Monday chaired a meeting here to review the progress of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and ring road projects in Srinagar and Jammu.
Financial commissioner, Revenue, chief administrative officer (CAO), USBRL Project, administrative secretaries of the departments of Forest, Revenue, PHE & I&FC, divisional commissioner, Jammu, director NHAI, J&K, deputy commissioner, Jammu and other senior officers of the State Government, Railway and National Highway Authorities were present in the meeting. Divisional commissioner, Kashmir, deputy commissioner of concerned districts participated via video conferencing.
The latest status in regard to land acquisition in various sections of the Katra-Banihal Rail line in Reasi and Ramban districts and 132 KV Transmission Line from Katra to Reasi and Ramban to Sangaldan was reviewed in the meeting. Chief secretary noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in resolution of bottlenecks and completion of the land acquisition proceeding at most of the pending sites.
In regard to ring road project, it was informed that 90% of the land in Jammu for the project has already been handed over to the NHAI and the remaining will be handed over shortly, while as in Srinagar, the process of handing over of entire State land to the NHAI has already been completed. Besides, Rs 2.10 Crore compensation on account of trees/structures has also been paid in the Srinagar ring road project. The process of draft award has been initiated for acquisition of private land and 16 of these cases covering 68% of the compensation amount of the entire land acquisition have been forwarded for approval to the office of the financial commissioner, Revenue. The remaining number of cases will be forwarded by or before 31st January 2018.
Chief secretary asked the NHAI to ensure that the pending compensation amount on account of land acquisition is released to the DCs immediately for timely disbursement to the land owners.