Latest news with #PublicWorksDepartment
NDTV
12 hours ago
- NDTV
10-Year Elaborate Plan To Conserve Shivaji Forts Granted Heritage Tag
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Conservation of the 12 forts associated with Shivaji Maharaj, which have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites, will involve a comprehensive 10-year plan focusing on retaining historical characteristics, managing garbage, and deploying manpower. A senior official told PTI that conservation of areas of these forts, that attract a large number of visitors, will be prioritised in the complex exercise, which will involve various departments. The UNESCO has inscribed 'Maratha Military Landscapes', comprising Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay Durg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu, in the World Heritage List. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, underlined the complexities of conservation, considering the unique topography and historical characteristics of every fort. "Though the UNESCO tag has been allotted, there is a set of challenges we must overcome. We have prepared and submitted a 10-year plan to tackle these issues across all 12 forts," he said. He emphasised that each fort has unique characteristics, so a uniform approach won't be effective. "Conservation is a major task which will be executed after conducting a detailed study. We will start with areas that experience heavy footfall-this could include gates, fortifications, and other historical structures. In places where communities reside on the forts, we will work to give the locality a traditional and heritage-friendly look," the official added. Following this, efforts will focus on inaccessible areas, aiming to make them open and safe for visitors. The initiative will not be restricted to a single department, he said. "We will collaborate with district planning committees, the Public Works Department (PWD), the tourism department, and other government agencies to enhance visitor access and infrastructure," he said. Manpower and garbage management have also been identified as critical areas. "While there may not be entry tickets, district administrations can levy a nominal fee for waste management and security. Dedicated manpower will be deployed, and strict monitoring of plastic use will be enforced," the official said. He stressed the need to sensitise visitors about the historical and cultural significance of these forts. "Public awareness and responsible tourism are vital for preserving these heritage sites," he said. The official said the proposal submitted to the UNESCO extended beyond architectural significance. "It also strongly emphasised the philosophy of self-rule or 'Swarajya' envisioned in the 17th century for the welfare of the people. This holistic narrative was crucial in achieving the World Heritage recognition," he said. Director of Archaeology and Museums for the Government of Maharashtra, Tejas Garge, Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge and other officials played a key role in this project.
Daily Express
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Over 200 of 800 projects are ahead of schedule: Maslan
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 Text Size: Ahmad also suggested that relevant public works officers visit and learn about construction aspects abroad, such as China and India, which complete construction projects quickly using the latest technology, including the 'prefabricated modular system'. KUNAK: More than 200 of the 800 construction projects supervised by the Public Works Department (JKR) nationwide are currently ahead of schedule or Ahead of Time (AOT). Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said this took into account projects that were ahead of schedule by more than a week to 10 days. Advertisement 'But this 200 is still not enough, while the remaining construction projects are not on schedule and late projects, and with three per cent being sick projects. 'It must be ensured that any project, especially in Sabah, be completed on schedule or AOT. 'When the project is late, among the plans that the contractor should do is to create extra work time, for example on weekends, including creating double shifts of work per day,' he said after reviewing the progress of the new building construction project covering 12 classrooms and other facilities at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kunak Jaya, here, Wednesday. Ahmad also suggested that relevant public works officers visit and learn about construction aspects abroad, such as China and India, which complete construction projects quickly using the latest technology, including the 'prefabricated modular system'. In Sabah, ahead of schedule are five dilapidated school projects, including two in Semporna and one each in Tawau, Kota Belud and Pensiangan. Meanwhile, Ahmad said there is a project to build a new building at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kunak Jaya, costing RM24.3 million, and expected to be completed in November, has now reached 18 per cent of the physical progress. He added that the project, which began in June 2024, involves the construction of 12 classrooms, an administration block, a science room, workshop, computer laboratory, surau and canteen, and will benefit more than 500 students at the school. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
PWD begins demolition in newly built district hospital to add fire exit, ramp
Nagpur: Barely weeks after completion, the state-of-the-art Nagpur district general hospital at Mankapur is undergoing demolition — this time to build a fire exit and a ramp for stretcher movement during emergencies. The move, labelled as part of a 'Phase II expansion', has raised eyebrows as both features are basic necessities in a tertiary care hospital. The state Public Works Department (PWD), which designed and built the hospital, is now constructing not just the fire escape and ramp but also a mortuary, sewage treatment plant, laundry unit, modular labour room, modular operation theatre, and medical gas pipeline system (MGPS). An additional Rs15 crore was sanctioned for these works. Under Phase I, the hospital construction cost stood at around Rs45 crore, and the building was declared ready last month — over 13 years after the project was sanctioned. Despite the hospital being fully equipped and staffed, its inauguration has been repeatedly delayed. It was initially slated to open in early June but missed several deadlines. Final work resumed after pressure from the high court and elected representatives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [국가인증] 키성장 인증받은 '이 제품' 2개월치 무료증정 이벤트 곧 마감! 아이클타임 더 알아보기 Undo During a TOI visit, the hospital appeared fully functional, with clinical staff present in their departments and the civil surgeon's office shifted to the new premises. Beds have been laid across wards, but the facility remains without patients. The ongoing construction on the second floor breaks the silence in the corridors. PWD officials did not clarify why the ramp and fire exit were excluded from the original plan. PWD executive engineer Varsha Ghuse did not respond to calls. Hospital authorities say the two-storey structure — with a restricted 100-bed capacity — was entirely designed by PWD. The omission of key safety features is especially glaring in the wake of recent tragedies, such as the 2021 Bhandara district hospital fire. Officials now say the fire exit and ramp will link the existing structure to a 100-bed Critical Care Hospital Block (CCHB), currently under construction at the rear of the campus. The CCHB is being developed under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and is in an advanced stage. The absence of basic emergency infrastructure, especially after years of delay and crores spent, has raised serious questions about planning and accountability in government health infrastructure projects.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Madhya Pradesh's U-Turn On 90-Degree Bridge Blunder
After a public outcry over bizarrely angled designs - a bridge with two 90-degree turns in Indore and a flyover in Bhopal that looked more like an origami experiment - the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Madhya Pradesh government hit the brakes. They issued a new circular, saying no project has been halted after it scrapped the General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) of 355 projects, including 140 under-construction flyovers, railway overbridges (ROBs), and elevated corridors worth Rs 1,200 crores. As the engineers and contractors were preparing to halt the construction of these projects, the PWD decided to re-engineer its own decision. The department revoked the order, claiming it was a "mistake." Chief Engineer PC Verma, who had earlier signed the cancellation, said, "The order was issued by mistake." Meanwhile, a new circular states no project has been halted. The department said it was only tightening bolts on quality control and technical oversight, not slamming brakes on construction. The PWD has sought a detailed report from all districts (PWD offices) about the actual status as well as the design of all existing and proposed bridges. In response to growing criticism, the state formed a high-level technical committee. This committee will now examine every nook, curve, and angle of all existing and under-construction flyovers and railway overbridges. From design and alignment to height, speed limits, and safety norms - nothing will get through without a solid pass. This panel includes PWD's Chief Engineer (Buildings and Roads), Chief Engineer (Setu Parikshetra), Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation's (MPRDC) Chief Engineer, and officials from the Railway and the Municipal Corporation. Experts from outside the government may also be called in. Additionally, the government has mandated departmental exams for engineers. Executive Engineers, AEs, and Sub-Engineers must appear for tests after August 15, and their postings will now depend on their marks. They also appointed a Technical Advisor of MPRDC to collaborate with the Indian Academy for Highway Engineering to develop a training module for engineers, who will now have to study Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) guidelines. Two weeks ago, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered action against those responsible for the infamous 90-degree Aishbagh ROB in Bhopal. Eight engineers, including two Chief Engineers, were suspended; a departmental inquiry is also being initiated against a retired Superintending Engineer. The construction agency and the design consultant behind the faulty blueprint have been blacklisted, and the bridge will only be inaugurated post-correction.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Over 200 JKR-supervised construction projects ahead of implementation schedule
Ahmad Maslan KUNAK (July 16): More than 200 of the 800 construction projects supervised by the Public Works Department (JKR) nationwide are currently ahead of schedule or Ahead of Time (AOT). Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said this took into account projects that were ahead of schedule by more than a week to 10 days. 'But this 200 is still not enough, while the remaining construction projects are not on schedule and late projects, and with three per cent being sick projects. 'It must be ensured that any project, especially in Sabah, be completed on schedule or AOT. When the project is late, among the plans that the contractor should do is to create extra work time, for example on weekends, including creating double shifts of work per day,' he said. He said this to reporters after reviewing the progress of the new building construction project covering 12 classrooms and other facilities at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kunak Jaya here Wednesday. Ahmad also suggested that relevant public works officers visit and learn about construction aspects abroad, such as China and India, which complete construction projects quickly using the latest technology, including the 'prefabricated modular system'. In Sabah, ahead of schedule are five dilapidated school projects, including two in Semporna and one each in Tawau, Kota Belud and Pensiangan. Meanwhile, Ahmad said there is a project to build a new building at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kunak Jaya, costing RM24.3 million, and expected to be completed in November, has now reached 18 per cent of the physical progress. He added that the project, which began in June 2024, involves the construction of 12 classrooms, an administration block, a science room, workshop, computer laboratory, surau and canteen, and will benefit more than 500 students at the school. – Bernama
