Speaker Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, Thursday chaired an extensive review meeting to assess the overall development scenario in Budgam district, with special focus on his constituency Charar-i-Sharief.
During the meeting Speaker thoroughly reviewed multiple the performance and achievements of different departments, including Rural Development, Roads & Buildings, Jal Shakti, Health, and Education from the previous financial year while finalizing plans for the current year. The focus of the discussions was progress of ongoing projects, fund utilization, and the status of various government schemes in Budgam district, particularly in the Charar-i-Sharief constituency. The Chief Planning Officer (CPO) of Budgam reported that 730 works were approved in Charar-i-Sharief during the previous financial year, with 665 completed. In the context of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), 172 works were identified by MLAs, of which 160 were approved and 67 completed. The Rural Development Department saw 1,628 approved works, with 1,533 completed, while the Roads & Buildings sector reported 41 approved works, 30 of which were completed in 2025-26. In Education, 24 out of 97 approved works were completed, and in Jal Shakti, 41 out of 67 approved works were finished. A significant topic of discussion was the restoration of the Chadoora bridge, a crucial link for the local population.
The Speaker directed the Roads & Buildings department to expedite this restoration and ensure the road conditions leading to the Bailey bridge are maintained for smooth vehicle movement. Emphasizing the importance of timely execution of developmental works, the Speaker called for effective inter-departmental coordination to ensure public welfare schemes are efficiently delivered at the grassroots level. The Speaker adopted a “people-first” governance approach, urging departmental heads to prioritize the resolution of public grievances and to address any administrative or technical challenges that may delay vital infrastructure projects. He stressed that development should translate into tangible benefits for citizens, not just statistics, and that administrative hurdles must be swiftly cleared to ensure essential services reach the public without delay. In a move to enhance grassroots representation, the Speaker instructed district officers to involve MLAs in the planning and identification of developmental works, recognizing their unique position to identify projects of high public importance. This collaboration aims to align proposed works with community needs and secure necessary legislative support for timely execution. The meeting concluded with a commitment from the district administration to adhere to strict timelines, ensuring that the vision for a developed and self-reliant Budgam is achieved through coordinated efforts across departments. Senior officers from various departments participated in the meeting, providing updates on achievements, challenges, and future action plans related to developmental activities in the district.
