| Shocker for masses in offing, people to pay user-fee on state roads | | 2 years after constitution, SRDC fails to take off | | Akshay Azad
JAMMU, July 24: Majority of the roads in state are in pathetic condition and the decision taken by state Cabinet to improve these roads has yielded no results. After more than two years, since the Government accorded sanction for constitution of State Road Development Corporation (SRDC), it has yet to take off.
Moreover, it will be another shocker for residents of Jammu and Kashmir, as the people have to pay user charges, for using the roads and bridges, constructed by SRDC.
Sources informed Early Times that in the month of May 2012, the state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had accorded sanction under Government order number 320-PW-R&B, for setting up of SRDC.
The decision was aimed at privatizing state road infrastructure, but after the lapse of more than two years and two months, same has just started paper work and survey of some roads.
"The objective behind constitution of SRDC was to enhance private participation in construction of major road infrastructure including roads, tunnels on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT), Build Own Transfer (BOT), Build Own Lease and Transfer (BOLT) under Public Private Partnership (PPP) as well as major projects entrusted by state as well as Union Governments", sources said.
The Corporation has started process for conducting surveys of important roads, tunnels, bridges which will be constructed on Public Private Partnership mode.
"The minimum time for execution of project will be three years and maximum of five years, while the contractor who will construct the road, bridge or tunnel will charge user fee from the vehicles pass use the stretch," sources said.
They further said that with the constitution of SRDC, the contractors from across the world would participate in the road infrastructure construction and development, in the state.
"The expected hurdles which will be faced by private players from outside the state and country due to imposition of Article 370, vis-a-vis giving a road stretch, bridge or tunnel on lease to outsiders, will be addressed on single basis by the state Law Department," sources said.
Pertinently, as per Government order eight- member Corporation will be headed by Minister for Roads and Buildings as its chairman. SRDC shall have Minister of State for R&B as its vice-chairman and administrative Secretaries of Finance, Planning and Development, Forest, Housing and Urban Development Department, Public Works (R&B) and Managing Director, JKSRDC, as its members.
The SRDC would be executing only mega road projects requiring large investment. The J&KSRDC would act as a nodal agency for executing roads and allied surface infrastructure projects. |
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