Secretary PWD takes stock of BRO projects, directs agencies to remove execution bottlenecks

LEH: Administrative Secretary, PWD/R&B, UT Ladakh, Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary, on Tuesday chaired a comprehensive review of road and infrastructure projects being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) across Ladakh, directing executing agencies to accelerate works, resolve land and clearance bottlenecks, and ensure strict reconciliation of physical and financial progress.

The review assumed significance as several strategically important road, tunnel, bridge and allied infrastructure projects remain at different stages of execution across Leh, Kargil and other parts of the Union Territory. The meeting examined project-wise progress, funding requirements, pending liabilities, land acquisition, wildlife clearances, utility shifting and targeted completion schedules.

Chief Engineer, Project Vijayak, presented an overview of ongoing projects and flagged issues concerning tendering, land acquisition, wildlife clearances, funding and execution timelines. Choudhary directed the concerned officers to ensure that DPRs, land records, clearance proposals and other requisite documents are completed and forwarded to the competent authorities without delay.

Among the key projects reviewed was the Turtuk–Zingpal Road, which is nearing completion, with the requirement for additional funding also discussed. The meeting further examined the Batalik–Turtuk stretch, including widening requirements and tunnel-related works in the Hambuthang area.

The Administrative Secretary placed particular emphasis on financial discipline, directing the concerned agencies to reconcile advances, withdrawals, expenditure and liabilities and ensure that every figure submitted in proposals is backed by proper records. He also directed that pending land acquisition cases be pursued with the concerned district administrations on priority to prevent them from becoming impediments to project execution.

The Kargil–Dumgil Road was also reviewed with regard to land acquisition, expenditure and field-level issues. Officers were asked to coordinate closely with the district administration and complete the requisite formalities under applicable land acquisition provisions. The status of the Kargil–Dungail Road, including its upgradation under PMGSY, was separately assessed, with directions to expedite the remaining works.

Utility shifting emerged as another important implementation issue. The Administrative Secretary directed the concerned departments to coordinate in advance for shifting of utilities so that approved projects do not face avoidable delays. He also called for early finalisation of proposals concerning fund reallocation and additional financial requirements in coordination with the Planning Department.

Projects in Drass were reviewed separately, with focus on utilisation certificates, expenditure accounting and efficient deployment of sanctioned funds. Officers were directed to complete pending financial documentation and ensure that funding does not remain unutilised because of procedural delays.

A separate review was held for projects being executed under BRO Project Himank, where Chief Engineer Project Himank, Brigadier Rajiv Ahlawat, presented package-wise progress, DPR status, contractor deployment, completion timelines and pending liabilities.

The Administrative Secretary directed the executing agencies to accelerate works under the allocated packages and adhere to the targeted completion schedule. He specifically called for identified works to be completed by the end of September, wherever feasible, while ensuring that quality and requisite procedural formalities are not compromised.

The Tangtse–Lukung sector and other major infrastructure requirements were also discussed. The Administrative Secretary sought a clear status of projects that are yet to be completed and directed that works already completed be formally closed from the concerned agency’s side after fulfilment of all required formalities.

Choudhary stressed that discrepancies between physical progress, expenditure, advances and liabilities must be eliminated before proposals are submitted for consideration. Executing agencies were directed to reconcile all financial and physical figures and ensure that fund requirements and pending liabilities are accurately reflected.

He further called for closer coordination between PWD, BRO, Planning and Finance Departments, observing that avoidable delays in documentation and inter-departmental processing should not hold up projects that have already received approval.

The meeting also examined proposals concerning bridges, roads, tunnels and helipads, including cases requiring coordination with Civil Aviation authorities. The concerned agencies were directed to scrutinise such proposals from both technical and financial perspectives, reconcile estimates and submit complete proposals for consideration and approval.

The review brought together senior officials from the PWD, BRO, Planning and other concerned departments, underscoring the administration’s focus on strengthening infrastructure delivery through closer monitoring, financial accountability and faster resolution of procedural bottlenecks.

The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer, PWD, Abdul Mutalib; Chief Engineer, Project Himank, Brigadier Rajiv Ahlawat; Chief Engineer, Project Vijayak, Brigadier Rahul; Joint Director, Planning, Tsering Angdus, besides senior officers of PWD, BRO and other concerned departments. Chief Engineer, Project Vijayak, and other officers also participated virtually.