By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: Nearly two months after coming up with a road maintenance policy, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir has constituted a high-level committee for planning, budgeting, management and monitoring of maintenance of road infrastructure.
To begin implementation of the policy, the government has constituted a committee headed by the administrative secretary of the Public Works department for planning, budgeting, management and maintenance of road infrastructure in J&K.
The six-member committee comprises Development Commissioner Works(PWD), Chief Engineer PW(R&B) department Jammu/ Kashmir, Chief Engineer PMGSY Jammu/ Kashmir, Director Finance PW(R&B) department and Director/ Joint Director Planning PW(R&B) department.
On October 7, the administrative council headed by LG Manoj Sinha approved the road maintenance policy -2021 and standard operating procedure for maintenance of the road network in J&K.
The road maintenance policy provides a guiding framework for establishing objectives, making arrangements for, and establishing a set of procedures for undertaking maintenance and repair works by PWD.
The policy provides for upgrading cross drainage systems of roads; ensuring timely clearances and repair works for proper maintenance of roads; getting repair works done during and after the completion of defect liability period; implementing audit of roads and bridges besides ensuring road safety measures on critical spots and regular inspection of roads by the field staff through visits as per a standard schedule.
Additionally, the policy also includes provisions for empowering the field staff to ensure fortnightly site inspections and reporting; restoring potholes and craters within 7-days by mobile teams, and introducing the latest technology and gadgets including digital survey vehicles for speedy and precise assessment of road conditions.
It is worthwhile to mention that J&K has a gross road length of 41,600 km and it is expected to reach 46,000 km length by 2022.
