CRF Projects in B’la abandoned midway as Center halts fund release

Baramulla, Jan 21 ( RNA) : As the 31 member parliamentary delegation is currently in valley to review the centrally sponsored developmental projects, reports have surfaced that New Delhi has stopped funding to many road and infrastructure projects in Baramulla district long ago ,forcing authorities to abandon them mid way. This news wire has learned from sources that work on at least three mega projects of Roads and bridges approved under Central Road Fund ( CRF) in Sangrama Constituency of the district has been halted from last more than a year as the agency has stopped the release of funds. The documents accessed by Regional News Agency ( RNA )reveal that the government had approved three important projects under the CRF Scheme back in 2016 and 2017 which included widening and up gradation of Hygam- Tarzova- Sopore road, construction of 3x50 meter trusted Girder Bridge over Jhelum at Seer Jagir and widening and up gradation of Razweth-Wugub- Krankshivan and seer road including inner links. The estimated cost for all the three projects was 4308.00 lakhs, out of which only 644.32 lakhs have been released so far, even as the target of completion was fixed as 2020-21. As per the progress report prepared by the state government authorities, 554.57 lakhs out of the estimated 1415.00 lakhs were released for Hygam Tarzova road up to March 2020, whereas, in the same period 81. 49 lakhs out of estimated 1500.00 lakhs and 8.25 lakhs out of estimated 1393.00 lakhs were released for Seer Bridge and Razweth- Wagub rod respectively.
However, the work as per sources- had to be stopped mid way after the flow of funds was halted by the agency post March 2020. Locals said that halt in work has not only put the future of these prestigious projects in jeopardy but has also put them in huge inconvenience. Locals in Tarzova told RNA that most part of the road has been damaged for its widening and up gradation but suddenly the work was stopped leaving the people in great despair. The sources in the department however, told that the paucity of funds has forced them to stop work which has created so much distress among public as well as contractors. The superintending Engineer PWD North Javid Bukhari did not respond to multiple phone calls from RNA.
Meanwhile former Revenue and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minster of the erstwhile Jammh and Kashmir State and then MLA Sangrama Syed Basharat Bukhari said that the projects were sanctioned by the Central government and stand approved , but expressed dismay over the halt on fund release. He urged the visiting Parliamentary delegation -who are here to review the progress of road and tourism sector projects- to intervene and appealed them to recommend the release of funds for the halted projects. RNA