Representatives of the two major construction companies Patel Engineering Limited (PEL) and Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) involved in execution of some flagship projects in J&K, called on the Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti here today.

Representatives comprised Managing Director, Rupen Patel, Deputy Director, Vaibhav Patel, Director, C K Singh and General Manager S Debnath from Patel Engineering, while as HCC was represented by President and CEO, Arun Karambelkar, COO, Ambuj Jain and Deputy CBDO, Kamal Verma.

Also present on the occasion were, Financial Commissioner Planning and Principal Secretary to CM, B B Vyas, Commissioner Secretary PDD, Dheeraj Gupta and Commissioner Secretary, PWD, Rohit Kansal.

The company representatives presented a brief resume of various completed and ongoing infrastructural projects especially in road and power sectors in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. They also informed the Chief Minister about their future interests and focus in being part of various developmental projects in the state. The companies also sought project specific support from the Government required for smooth and timely execution of the ongoing works.

The Chief Minister in her remarks appreciated the works completed especially in topographically and technologically challenging areas in the state. She at the same time asked the representatives to help in skilling up local youth so that they become employable in these or other similar future projects. “We want you to mentor, support, sponsor and employ the local youth to productively channelize the State’s human resource,” she told the representatives of these companies.

The Chief Minister also asked them to contribute towards development in and around the project areas especially by building productive infrastructure in education, health and tourism sectors under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The Chief Minister assured the companies of complete support of the government in smooth execution of their projects in the state.

HCC has been involved in major projects like Mughal Road, Kishanganga HEP, Ramban to Banihal Road Project (NH 44) and Sawalkot HEP in the State. While as PEL has been involved in projects like Udhampur Railway Tunnel, Parnai HEP, Sewa HEP, etc.