Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of State for Public Works, Brijesh Singh, held a comprehensive review meeting at the Tathagat Auditorium of the Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters. The meeting focused on the status of ongoing construction projects and directives for new projects to be undertaken in the fiscal year 2025–26.
During the session, the minister reviewed the status of project contracts, quality control measures at various levels, and the roadmap for completing renovation, special repairs, and sugar mill-related works by June 2025. He also sought updates on the upgrading of rural roads to the “Other District Roads” category and further to “Major District Roads” under the department’s classification system.
Brijesh Singh emphasized that all approved works must meet the quality standards and be completed within the stipulated timeline. He directed officials to ensure that all projects progress according to the milestones defined in the contracts. If contractors fail to meet these timelines, punitive action should be taken. Additionally, departmental officers responsible for any negligence will also be held accountable.
The minister instructed that the action plan for the financial year 2025–26 must be finalized by April 30. He also proposed that, in view of increasing vehicular pressure, all rural roads should be considered for expansion to at least 5.5 meters in width.
He further reviewed the expenditure incurred against funds released for current projects and called for accelerated progress to ensure early completion, thereby benefiting the general public.
“Regular monitoring of under-construction projects is essential. Any laxity in implementation or delay will not be tolerated,” he warned, urging senior officials to conduct frequent on-site inspections.
Principal Secretary of the PWD, Ajay Chauhan, briefed the minister on the physical and financial progress made under various schemes during the 2024–25 financial year. He assured that all directives issued by the minister would be implemented promptly.
Other officials present in the review meeting included Secretary of PWD Prakash Bindu, Special Secretaries Prabhu Nath and Lal Dhirendra Rao, Chief Engineer and Head of Department Mukesh Chandra Sharma, Chief Engineer for Rural Roads Shriraj, Chief Engineer for Planning and Design A.K. Dwivedi, Chief Engineer (HQ-1) Shri Anil Kumar Dubey, Managing Director of Setu Nigam Shri Dharmveer Singh, Chief Engineer of PMGSY R.N. Singh, as well as all Regional Chief Engineers and other senior departmental officers.
