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Border Roads Organization: Chief Engineer’s absence affects works in Kashmir

Srinagar: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is virtually headless in Kashmir Valley as its Chief Engineer reportedly spends much of his time outside Valley.

Reliable sources told a local news gathering agency – CNS – that the incumbent Chief Engineer of Border Roads Organisation frequently leaves his station while insiders said that he visits frequently his native place outside Kashmir.

“His absence has been affecting the work culture of BRO badly. These days as well, the Chief Engineer is out of station. The irony is that from past two years he has spent maximum of his time outside Valley,” insiders said.

They revealed that the continuous absence of  the Chief Engineer has affected various road projects while sources added that this year the virtual headless organization took pretty long time in clearing snow on the Srinagar-Leh road.

“This happened due to absence of Chief Engineer. Even Kargil legislator and senior Congress leader was forced to write a letter to Director General of Border Roads Organization Lieutenant General SK Shrivastava. In his communiqué, the Legislator from Kargil, Asghar Ali Karbalai, claimed that the Border Road Organization in Kashmir is not serious in throwing the strategically important roads open. He had even alleged that the callous attitude of some of the officials of BRO has tarnished the credibility of the organization.”

If well placed sources are to be believed, the affairs at the Border Roads Organization is managed by a junior officer who is Director Works and Budgets.

Sources added that in absence of the Chief Engineer, this official only buys time and is unable to carry out any work.

They added that messy affairs of BRO were one of the major reasons that Sopore Bridge in Baramulla district developed cracks shortly after its inauguration.

Chief Engineer Border Road Organization AK Das said that it is the age of science and technology and “the presence or absence of any official at a particular place hardly matters”.

“Border Roads Organization is doing a wonderful job,” he said and added that he will be back to Srinagar “very soon”.

Despite repeated attempts, Director General Border Roads Organization SK Shrivastava could not be contacted.

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