Sawombung bridge work order cancelled
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2019: The work order allotted for construction of Sawombung bridge has been cancelled on account of the contractor's failure to complete it on time and other discrepancies, and the contractor would be fined.

According to information received from MoRTH, Guwahati regional office, the Sawombung bridge would be the first case of fine being imposed fine on the contractor concerned for undue delay in completing projects and indulgence in discrepancies since Nitin Gadkari became the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) .

Necessary amount for construction of Sawombung bridge was sanctioned a long time back but the contractor, in defiance of rules and guidelines, let out the same work to a sub-contractor.

However, the sub-contractor was also not executing the project in time.

Sawombung bridge work order cancelled

Moreover, the subcontractor completely overlooked the qualitative aspect of the project.

Amidst the suspicion that 35 mm concrete was not used in constructing the bridge, a team of IIT engineers confirmed that the project has failed completely in terms of quality.

Later, a team of PWD engineers checked the quality of the under-construction bridge and they said that it was okay.

However, the work order has been cancelled for letting out the project to a sub-contractor in defiance of rules.

Subsequently, the Ministry's regional office has sent a representation to MoRTH to revalidate the cancelled work order, and it is expected that the work order would be revalidated, informed the source.

Even though the project could not be completed within the stipulated period as laid down in the agreement, the same agreement gives room for extension of the completion period.

But the grace period too has expired.

As such, 10 per cent of the total cost of the bridge would be fined against the contractor after the cancelled work order is revalidated although the State PWD recommended a fine of only five per cent.

Despite the PWD's recommendation, MoRTH regional office has decided to impose a fine of 10 percent of the total cost, said the source.

According to information received from PWD, MoRTH sanctioned Rs 14.14 crore in 2012-13 for construction of Sawombung bridge.

After holding tender three times, the project of constructing Sawombung bridge was awarded to M/S Supreme Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, Kolkata.

The bridge is 64 metres long and 12.9 metre wide and its work order amount is Rs 12.70 crore.

Taking strong exception of the lack of work progress and defiance of rules by way of letting out the project to a sub-contractor, the Ministry reportedly informed M/S Supreme Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, Kolkata that work order for the particular project would be cancelled.

As the project was not making any progress, the Ministry did not release any amount for it.

So far, the contractor might have received just around Rs two crore, said the source.