Chief Secretary Expresses Concern Over Slow Progress of Sharda Riverfront Corridor, Orders Dedicated Project Manager
Dehradun: Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed the progress of various infrastructure projects of the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB) during a meeting of its Executive Committee at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure that all projects are completed within the prescribed timelines and that their progress is monitored regularly and effectively.
The slow progress of the Sharda Riverfront Corridor project came under particular scrutiny during the meeting. The Chief Secretary expressed dissatisfaction over the project achieving only around 10 percent progress in nearly 10 months by the executing agency, UPDCC. He directed the deployment of a dedicated project manager for the project to accelerate implementation and strengthen on-ground monitoring.
He specifically instructed that the project manager should be stationed at the project site so that ongoing works can be monitored continuously and issues arising at the site can be resolved without delay.
PERT Charts to Track Project Progress
The Chief Secretary directed that PERT charts, along with clearly defined timelines, be prepared for all UIIDB projects. Project-wise progress should be presented against these timelines during every review meeting, he said.
He further directed officials to identify the reasons for delays in projects that are not progressing according to schedule and take corrective measures immediately. The Principal Secretary, Planning, was also directed to conduct regular reviews of UIIDB projects.
Dedicated Teams for River Rafting Projects
The meeting also reviewed projects related to river rafting development. The Chief Secretary directed UPDCC to develop dedicated teams for the operation and maintenance of these projects for the next five years and ensure their deployment at the respective sites.
He further directed that separate units be established for the Haridwar and Rishikesh areas to ensure smooth operation, maintenance and management of the projects.
Priority Works to Be Completed Before Kumbh Mela 2027
Keeping Kumbh Mela 2027 in view, the Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure that all priority works in the Haridwar region are completed within the prescribed deadlines.
He directed that the works related to Sati Kund be completed by December 15, with an increase in the number of workers and work shifts wherever required.
At the same time, he stressed that accelerating the pace of construction should not compromise the quality of the works.
Executing Agency’s General Manager to Be Stationed in Haridwar
The Chief Secretary directed that the General Manager of the executing agency responsible for works in Haridwar should remain stationed in the city and regularly monitor the progress of projects.
The General Manager was also directed to submit detailed progress reports to the District Magistrate and Divisional Commissioner. Necessary orders in this regard should be issued immediately, he said.
Written NOC Required Before New Parking Projects
The Chief Secretary also issued directions regarding new surface, underground and mechanical parking projects in Haridwar.
He directed that written No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the District Magistrate and Mela Officer must be obtained before taking up any new parking project in the Haridwar area.
He also stressed the need to properly integrate parking projects with plans being prepared by other departments. The type of parking—surface, underground or mechanical—should be selected based on the most practical and suitable option for each location.
Financial and Audit Committee to Strengthen Financial Oversight
To strengthen monitoring of financial matters related to UIIDB projects, the Chief Secretary directed the constitution of a Financial and Audit Committee.
He emphasized the need to maintain financial discipline, transparency and timely implementation across all projects.
Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretaries Nitesh Kumar Jha, Ravinath Raman, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey and C. Ravishankar, Dr. Ranvir Singh Chauhan, Special Secretary Parag Madhukar Dhakate, along with officials from concerned departments and UIIDB, attended the meeting.
