Leh, March 26: The Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Leh, Adv. Tashi Gyalson chaired a meeting in the presence of Shri Michael M. D’Souza, IAS, Administrative Secretary, GAD, UT Ladakh, at the Conference Hall, Council Secretariat, LAHDC Leh, to discuss the progress of ongoing mega projects and address key infrastructure challenges for the financial year 2024-25.

The meeting was attended by Dy. Chairman Tsering Angchuk; Executive Councillors Tashi Namgyal Yakzee, Stanzin Chosphel, and Ghulam Mehdi; DC/CEO, LAHDC Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve; CPO Leh; Chief Engineer PWD (R&B/PMGSY); District Superintending Engineer, PWD Leh; District Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic Leh; District Superintending Engineer, PHE/I&FC Leh; and District Superintending Engineer, PDD Choglamsar. Executive Engineer, Construction Division, Leh, and R&B Division, Leh, were also present.

The meeting was also attended virtually by the Executive Engineer, I&FC, Leh; Executive Engineer, PHE, Leh; Executive Engineer, Igoo Phey, Leh; Executive Engineer, Electric Division, Leh; Executive Engineer, STD, Leh; Executive Engineer, LDA, Leh; and Executive Engineer, SO, Khalsi, Nyoma, and Nubra.

During the meeting, Michael M. D’Souza spoke about the allocation of funds, including CRF and SDP, and the overall financial planning for the year. He provided a brief overview of how the funds were being managed and the challenges in efficiently distributing resources for critical projects.

The CEC then addressed the significant budget reduction for UT Ladakh this year, highlighting its impact on major developmental initiatives. He stressed the need for financial restructuring to ensure the smooth execution of both ongoing and upcoming projects.

The primary agenda of the meeting focused on reviewing the status of major infrastructure projects and addressing key concerns related to road connectivity, budget constraints, and project execution.

The inauguration of the Bakula Rinpoche Shradhanjali Park was discussed and highlighted as a priority project, with CEC instructing officials to assess the progress made so far and expedite the work. The construction of the new Council Secretariat building was also discussed, with an emphasis on ensuring its timely completion. Additionally, other developmental projects were also reviewed, with officials directed to accelerate their execution.

Discussions further covered various road infrastructure projects under CRF and SDP, with a strong focus on accelerating their progress. The Agyam-Shayok road, particularly the crucial stretch leading up to Zero Point, was reviewed, along with discussions about the Alchi dock project. Snow clearance operations in remote areas such as Lingshed, Dipling, were also discussed, with CEC emphasizing the urgency of clearing these roads to ensure accessibility for students, patients, and residents, especially as schools have reopened.

Additionally, the Choglamsar road widening project was discussed due to increasing traffic congestion, with instructions to expedite the work. The Saboo-Mahabodhi road was also reviewed, with officials directed to resolve the hurdles causing delays.

The CEC concluded the meeting by instructing all officials to expedite the projects, ensure their timely completion, and address any obstacles that may cause delays. Emphasizing the importance of each project, he directed the concerned departments to prioritize the work and take all necessary steps to accelerate progress.