Srinagar: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Tuesday inspected the Boulevard Road widening project at Nehru Park and said the four-laning of the stretch was a long-pending dream of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah which the present government intends to fulfil.
Accompanied by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasr Islam Wani and senior officials of the Roads & Buildings Department, Choudhary reviewed progress on the four-laning works and directed engineers to speed up construction. He said the foundation stone for the priority stretch would be laid within a month.
Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said, “This Boulevard project was CM Omar Sahab’s dream. We have come here on his directions. We will start work from the major stretch first — this portion is a priority because traffic congestion is heavy here. The foundation stone will be laid within a month and the work will be taken forward.”
He blamed previous administrations for delays and accused the former BJP-PDP governments of failing to complete the project. “Omar Sahib had initiated this before 2014 but it could not be completed as governments changed. For 11 years, BJP and PDP ran a government of words, not action. They should have finished what was started,” he said.
On the political transition since 2014, Choudhary said Jammu & Kashmir is no longer the same and recalled losses suffered during the period. “This is not the pre-2014 Kashmir. Over the last 11 years people endured hardships; we lost statehood and a number of our special protections were eroded. People know who is responsible,” he said.
Asserting his government’s mandate, the Deputy CM added, “People have given us responsibility and we accept that duty. There are two administrations now — elected and nominated — but we will work honestly to fulfil the promises our Chief Minister made. We will fight to deliver what we have pledged.”
Officials said that resources are being mobilised to accelerate the Boulevard works and ensure quality standards are maintained while meeting the timeline. (JKNS)
