Government revokes NH 37 work order
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 31 2012: As the Dimapur based firm Hukato Naga has failed to take up repairing and development work of National Highway 39 from Maram to Senapati even after work order for the same was issued two years back, the Government of Manipur has revoked the work order awarded to the firm.

Moreover, the State Government has decided to recover some crores of rupees from the Dimapur based firm under Risk and Cause factor for delaying the highway development work for almost two years.

According to a source in Public Works Department, the work order awarded to Hukato Naga company was revoked as it failed to take up the assigned task for almost two years.

After completing due tender process at the national level for development of the Maram-Senapati section of NH 39 which includes black-topping with a bitumen layer of standard thickness, the work order was awarded to Hukato Naga company.

As per the work order, the estimated cost was around Rs one crore for every one kilometre.

For Maram-Senapati section which is more than 30 Kms long, the total estimated cost was Rs 34 crores.

File photo of Imphal-Dimapur NH-37 (39) road during landslide

In accordance to the undertaking signed for the contract work, the road development work should be completed by April next year.

The estimated amount of Rs 34 crores was a part of the total amount sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt of India in 2009 for development of NH 39 from Mao to Moreh.

As the work order awarded to the company has been revoked, a new tender process would be initiated so that the some contract work can be allotted to a qualified firm.

However, there would be certain cost variation in the estimated amount when a new tender is floated as compared to the estimated amount of 2009 .

To make up the variation in project cost, the State Government has already initiated necessary process to recover certain crores of rupees from the Dimapur based firm under Risk and Cause factor.

Of the more than 30 Kms long Maram-Senapati section, road development work has been completed for around three kilometres.

A joint measurement would be done on April 4 by PWD officials and officials of Hukato Naga company so as to ascertain the exact length for which development/repairing work has been completed.

After completing measurement of the completed portion, it would be decided whether or not payment should be made for the completed portion or adjustments be made keeping in view the variation in project cost between 2009 and now.

As per the undertaking signed with the Dimapur based company, deficits in cost variation should be recuperated from the security deposit.

In case the deficit amount cannot be recuperated from the security deposit, the State Government may write to Central PWD to deduct the amount from the company's bill provided the same company is engaged in other highway works under CPWD.

For it is unlikely that Hukato Naga company would remain silent in the face of these multiple processes that may be initiated by the State Government to recuperate the variation in project costs, the same matter may reach law courts, informed the official source.