Ranchi, July 15: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday issued a stern warning to officials over delays in road infrastructure projects, directing the Road Construction Department to complete all major pending road, flyover, overbridge and bridge works within the next two months or face strict departmental action.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Road Construction Department at the Jharkhand Secretariat, the Chief Minister expressed strong displeasure over the slow pace of several key infrastructure projects and reviewed the department’s performance over the past five years, including completed, ongoing and proposed works.
“Major pending road, flyover and bridge projects should be completed within the next two months,” Soren said, warning that officials and construction agencies responsible for unnecessary delays would face disciplinary action.
“If the work is not completed within the stipulated time frame, departmental action will be taken against the concerned officers and agencies,” he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government would adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards delays and negligence in infrastructure development.
“Unnecessary delay and negligence in development works will not be tolerated at any cost,” he said, adding that there would be no compromise on construction quality or adherence to prescribed standards.
“There will be no compromise with the prescribed quality standards in any construction project,” Soren said.
To strengthen monitoring and improve transparency, the Chief Minister directed the department to prepare an updated digital database of all road, flyover and bridge projects across the state. He also made geo-tagging of every project mandatory, with detailed information on project cost, timelines and progress to be maintained for regular review.
“An updated database of all projects should be prepared and every project must be geo-tagged to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
Soren also instructed officials to respond promptly to complaints related to poor road conditions, potholes, waterlogging and construction irregularities received through social media as well as print and electronic media.
“Immediate action should be taken on complaints regarding poor roads, potholes, waterlogging and construction irregularities received through social media and the media,” he said.
With the monsoon underway, the Chief Minister directed the department to prioritise pothole repairs, improve drainage systems, enhance road quality and widen narrow roads wherever required to minimise accident risks.
“During the rainy season, poor roads increase the risk of accidents. Special attention should be paid to pothole repairs, drainage improvement and road quality,” he said.
The Chief Minister further instructed officials to expedite pending infrastructure projects in Ranchi and other districts to provide timely relief to commuters and residents.
“Pending projects in Ranchi and other districts should be completed on priority to provide timely relief to the public,” he said.
The meeting also reviewed new infrastructure proposals, including a solar cycle track. Officials were directed to ensure proper drainage, strengthen embankments of bridges and culverts, and maintain high construction standards across all ongoing and upcoming projects.
