Dehradun: Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan reviewed the new and ongoing national highway projects in the state at the Secretariat on Friday. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary discussed various national highway projects in detail. He expressed deep displeasure over the slow progress of the projects.
The Chief Secretary expressed displeasure that the proposal for the Pithoragarh-Bageshwar NH 309A national highway construction, sanctioned in 2022-23, has not yet been sent to the Government of India. He directed that responsibility be fixed for the negligence and that adverse entries be made in the service records of the responsible officers. He also directed that a special adverse entry be made against the Executive Engineer for negligence in uploading data for forest and wildlife clearances for the Kathgodam-Nainital national highway construction, which was sanctioned in March 2024.
The Chief Secretary directed that all projects be regularly monitored at various levels and that work be expedited. He instructed that review meetings of pending projects, chaired by the District Magistrate, be held regularly. He also emphasized that all departments should clearly articulate their problems and issues.
The Chief Secretary directed that the 3(G) and 3(D) procedures for various roads be expedited. He also expressed displeasure over the delay in the marking and cutting of trees for the construction of various roads and directed that the process be started by December 31st. He also instructed that continuous contact be maintained with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and that regular follow-up be done on the projects.
The Chief Secretary also directed that ongoing projects be expedited. He inquired about the progress of NHAI’s Kotdwar bypass, Jhajhra-Ashaarodi, Haridwar-Najibabad, and Dehradun-Delhi Expressway projects. He directed that all projects be expedited and completed within the stipulated time.
Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, C. Ravi Shankar, Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar, and PCCF S.P. Subudhi, along with other senior officers, were present on the occasion.
