Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Oct 27 (KNS): The Roads and Buildings Department Kashmir Chief Friday announced that approximately 1600 kilometers of roads have been successfully macadamized in the valley this year, so for.
Er. Rafiq Ahmad, Chief Engineer of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, revealed to KNS that the department faced intermittent wet spells earlier this year, which affected the macadamization process. However, the department persisted and managed to macadamize vital road links.
The department had set an ambitious target to upgrade or macadamize approximately 1700 kilometers of roads in the current year. Er. Rafiq Ahmad stated, “The macadamization of various critical roads, including Airport road, Qamarwari road, Ali Jan road, Convent Road, Ganderbal to Wayil road, Boulevard Road, and others, has been successfully completed.”
He further explained, “The pace of blacktopping was hindered due to unfavorable weather conditions earlier this year, but the macadamization process during good weather conditions ensures a superior finish for the roads. There are no limitations, but macadamization during pleasant weather conditions helps us achieve a better result.”
The Roads and Buildings department commenced the road macadamization process for the current year in April. The department is working diligently to meet its targets before the onset of the winter season, when developmental work, including road repairs and macadamization, becomes challenging.
An official from the R&B department emphasized that the administration has prioritized development projects, particularly the construction and macadamization of roads, to ensure seamless connectivity between villages and towns. He said, “Every project is being executed with a sense of urgency, with sufficient manpower and machinery in place to meet the targets. All the roads and bridges sanctioned for this year will be completed as scheduled.”
Furthermore, officials stated that a three-tier quality testing process has been implemented to ensure the materials used by contractors meet the required standards for road macadamization. “First, the material is examined at the procurement plant, followed by on-site inspections. Samples are then sent to NIT (National Institute of Technology) for further scrutiny,” they explained.(KNS)