The Border Roads Organisation clears a road in Srinagar. File photo

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

There have been significant shortfalls in achievement of targets in the execution of various projects during the past two fiscal years by tasks forces of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) deployed in the volatile Kashmir valley.While allocated funds have been spent by 97.71 per cent and 93.32 per cent during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscals, respectively, the target achieved was as low as 14.32 per cent in some of the categories of works, an audit report finalised this month has revealed.“It is quite evident that the targets assigned by the Headquarters Director General, Border Roads, has not been achieved by 760 Task Force, in spite of expenditure to the tune of Rs 10,952.64 lakh against the allotment of Rs 11,208.79 lakh in 2015-16 and Rs 10,220.20 lakh against the allotment of Rs 10,951.04 lakh in 2016-17,” the report states. The 760 Border Roads Task Force functions under BRO’s Project Beacon in Jammu and Kashmir.While the Task Force exceeded its bridge construction target in 2016-17, which amounted to 122.80 per cent, it was just 19.85 in the preceding fiscal. The performance in resurfacing works also flip-flopped from 99.99 per cent in 2015-16 to just 29.43 per cent in 2016-17.The report also pointed out that in one instance of road formation works, 66.20 per cent of the allocated funds had been spent, but the physical progress had been only 38.53 per cent. The contractor asked for an extension which was more than the original time period.An infructuous expenditure to the tune of Rs 3,094.98 lakh due to foreclosure of jobs has also been flagged. Further, the audit also revealed that a total of 14 jobs amounting to Rs 843.49 lakh are still lying unsanctioned since 2007. Noticeably, these are those which were to be commenced urgently before the issue of administrative approval, where local engineering authorities opine that delay in works may endanger life and property.

Unmet objectives  

• While allocated funds have been spent by 97.71 per cent and 93.32 per cent during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscals, respectively, the target achieved was as low as 14.32 per cent in some of the categories of works, an audit report finalised this month has revealed.
• While the Task Force exceeded its bridge construction target in 2016-17, which amounted to 122.80 per cent, it was just 19.85 in the preceding fiscal. The performance in resurfacing works also flip-flopped from 99.99 per cent in 2015-16 to just 29.43 per cent in 2016-17.