Contractors or firms violating agreement terms will face blacklisting: Chief Minister

● On Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the progress of various Public Works Department projects, providing essential guidelines to ensure timely completion and high-quality standards in construction. Key guidelines issued by the Chief Minister during the meeting include:

● Consider local needs when planning road construction projects. Timeliness and quality are non-negotiable, and everyone from the Junior Engineer (JE) to the Chief Engineer will be held accountable for lapses. Contractors or firms breaching the terms of the agreement will face blacklisting and strict actions. The use of petty contractors or sublets should not be permitted.

● When finalizing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), ensure clear start and end dates for the project, and adhere to them strictly. There will be no budget constraints. Completed projects should also undergo a third-party audit to verify quality.

● Whether it’s a road, bridge, or any construction project for public use, its significance to the community should be evaluated before approval. Balanced development is crucial—first assess the need, determine priorities, and then approve the project based on merit. All 75 districts should equally benefit from development initiatives.

● Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Tehsil/Block Headquarters Scheme, ensure swift completion of connecting all tehsil/block headquarters with the district headquarters via minimum two-lane roads. No tehsil or block should be excluded from this connectivity initiative.

● Accelerate construction of the grand ‘Maitri Dwar’ on the state’s interstate and international borders. Where land is unavailable, coordinate immediately with the local administration to secure it. These gates should be located directly on the borders, designed attractively, and equipped with quality lighting. Currently, entry gates on 96 routes are completed or in progress; the construction on remaining routes should be finalized promptly.

● The roads under the Sugarcane Development and Sugar Industry Department are now being constructed directly by the Public Works Department. Since this affects the interests of farmers and traders, it must be prioritized, ensuring that there are no potholes. Currently, about 6,000 km of roads are slated for reconstruction, widening, and strengthening, all to be built using FDR technology. There will be no budgetary constraints for this initiative.

● Roads leading to religiously significant sites should be of high quality to provide convenience for tourists and devotees. This includes the construction and widening of roads connecting religious, historical, and mythological sites of all communities, including Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Valmiki, Ravidasi, and Kabirpanthi across each district. The route selection should meet standards, and based on proposals from public representatives, these projects should be completed on schedule with the assistance of the Religious Works Department and the respective District Magistrate.

● Environmental protection must be prioritised in road construction, widening, and strengthening projects. Trees should not be cut unnecessarily, and the ones located in the centre of planned routes should be safeguarded, with their preservation included as a mandatory part of the road construction plan.

● The Deoria-Barhaj road requires strengthening. Submit the necessary proposal to proceed with this project.

● The Industrial Development Department, MSME, and Bio Energy Department are working on high-priority initiatives such as the Defense Corridor, Industrial Logistics Park, and Industrial Area and Pledge Park Scheme. Wherever possible, connect these industrial areas to four-lane roads to enhance accessibility.

● State roads currently two-lane or narrower should be upgraded to a minimum of two lanes with paved shoulders, ensuring they meet the standards required for high public utility and importance.

● Ensure all major district roads in assembly constituencies are constructed with a minimum width of two lanes (7 meters), while other district roads should be at least one and a half lanes (5.50 meters). Gather proposals from public representatives, set priorities, and initiate work accordingly.

● Prioritize repairs and construction of damaged bridges, temporary bridges constructed by the public, narrow bridges, and bridges on roads frequently affected by floods, especially on routes significant for public, religious, and tourism purposes. Develop an action plan for constructing three small bridges as needed in each assembly constituency.

● Immediate repairs should be undertaken for damaged long bridges. Collect proposals from all districts and incorporate requirements for long bridges in the action plan. In urban areas, it’s essential to replace damaged or narrow bridges with new structures. All districts should get the benefit of this.

● Submit proposals for rail overbridges and underbridges to the Government of India promptly. The state government will provide all necessary assistance to facilitate these projects.

● Construct bypass ring roads or flyovers to alleviate traffic congestion in densely populated cities. Prepare proposals for these construction projects based on each city’s population and priority level.

● Based on the 2011 census, for settlements or villages with a population exceeding 250 and a road length of 1 km or more, a connecting road should be constructed to ensure single connectivity. Similarly, a connecting road should be constructed to provide inter-connectivity to two villages/settlements whose population is more than 250. Conduct a survey to evaluate the requirements, assess the necessity, and proceed accordingly.