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| After 18 months of Cabinet decision, SRDC fails to start functioning | | | Akshay Azad | 11/15/2013 11:01:34 AM |
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Jammu, Nov 14: The lethargic functioning of various government departments could be well gauged from the fact that after lapse of more than 18 months, since the State Cabinet accorded sanction for the constitution of State Road Development Corporation (SRDC), same has failed to start functioning.
Sources informed Early Times that in the month of May 2012, the State Cabinet had accorded sanction under government order number 320-PW-R&B, for setting up of SRDC, which was aimed at privatizing state road infrastructure, but after the lapse of 18 months, it existed only in files.
They further said that the SRDC was aimed at privatizing road infrastructure in transport infrastructure across state. "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.
They further added that the file pertaining to constitution of SRDC has been shuttling from one table to another for the last few months. "Earlier, the Projects Organization which is executing the construction of Mughal road project had submitted a proposal before Registrar of Companies for registration of SRDC and in the meantime the portfolio of R&B Minister, who is Chairman of SRDC, got changed, due to which the whole process of registration was restarted and all details of new directors was furnished before Registrar of Companies," sources said.
An official seeking anonymity said that in the initial stage, the SRDC would execute its functions from the two offices of Projects Organization -executing Mugal road- one at Channi Himat Jammu and other at Lal Mandi Srinagar.
After the registration of SRDC, sources said, the Corporation will start 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-à-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.
A senior R&B official said that the file pertaining to SRDC constitution was send to Law department, which had raised some queries, which have been replied by the concerned department. |
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