Chief Minister reviews ongoing construction projects under the Revenue Department

Lucknow : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stressed the importance of constructing integrated complexes for offices directly connected to the public at district and divisional headquarters.

During a review of ongoing construction works under the Revenue Department on Friday, he highlighted that integrated complexes are already being developed for administrative offices in Gorakhpur and Varanasi. He called for similar complexes to be constructed in all districts, stating, “This will ensure that all major officers are located within the same complex, saving the common man from unnecessary hassle.”

He instructed that the proposed collectorate offices in Bulandshahr and Sambhal should be developed as integrated complexes.

While reviewing the current status of construction projects, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for maintaining high-quality standards. He pointed out a shortage of expert engineers in the PWD and other implementing agencies and suggested, “It would be appropriate to engage retired experienced or skilled professionals from reputed technical institutions.”

Highlighting the need for a professional approach by implementing agencies, the Chief Minister assured government support at all levels. “Whether it is budget or manpower, there will be no shortage,” he affirmed.

He directed all implementing agencies to conduct weekly reviews of their projects, with fortnightly reviews to be carried out by a secretary-level officer.

Additionally, the Chief Minister mandated that all construction projects exceeding ₹50 crore should undergo monthly third-party audits conducted by external technical institutes. For projects costing less than ₹50 crore, audits should be carried out by local technical institutes, which would also benefit students from those institutions.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the project design finalized before construction begins should not be altered once work has started. “In exceptional cases, any changes must receive prior approval from the government,” he stated.

Highlighting the consequences of delays in construction projects, the Chief Minister noted that they not only lead to increased costs but also deprive the intended beneficiaries of timely advantages. “The budget for any construction project related to tehsil or collectorate must not be revised. Moreover, after the project’s completion, the District Magistrate must conduct a physical inspection before its handover. If the quality of work is found lacking, strict action should be taken against those responsible.”

The Chief Minister set a two-month deadline to complete the construction of non-residential buildings for the Shamli district Collectorate. He warned that any delays beyond this timeframe would result in action against the concerned officials.

Emphasizing the importance of addressing local needs, the Chief Minister directed the immediate commencement of construction for the Gorakhpur Collectorate building. Similarly, he ordered the completion of the State Disaster Management Authority building in Lucknow within the next two months, without fail.

The Chief Minister also called for the physical verification of residential buildings in newly established tehsils, including Baldirai in Sultanpur, Govardhan in Mathura, and Nighasan, Gola Gokarnath, and Dhaurahra in Lakhimpur, following the completion of their construction.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need to expedite the construction of the Auraiya District Magistrate’s residence and housing for tehsil employees in Auraiya. He directed that every project must have a fixed completion date alongside its commencement, and adherence to the timeline should be ensured.

Similarly, ongoing projects, such as the construction of archives in the Collectorate premises in Auraiya and Jalaun, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s residence in Chandauli, Fatehpur Tehsil in Barabanki, Naugarh Tehsil in Siddharthnagar, Auraiya Tehsil in Jalaun, and non-residential and residential buildings in Tehsil Amroha, should all be completed within the specified deadlines.

During the meeting, it was reported that 72 projects, each costing more than ₹1 crore, are currently being executed under the Revenue Department, with a combined cost of ₹904.56 crore. Among these, 35 projects are progressing between 75% and 100% completion. Key projects include one Divisional Commissioner Office Building, one Divisional Commissioner Residence, seven Collectorate Offices, three District Magistrate Residences, 20 Tehsil Office Buildings, and 26 Tehsil Residence Buildings.