Railway works stopped over non-payment to contractors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 17 2019: Apart from extremely slow work progress, the ongoing railway project works in the State have been stopped due to non payment of bills to the contractors during the last 2 months.

According to a reliable source, it seems that the State Government has failed to take up any positive action regarding the stoppage of the construction works of the ongoing railway projects due to the failure to make any payments to the contractors involved.

Based on recent enquiries at different work sites, it was revealed that the work on the projects came to a standstill exclusively due to non payment to the contractors although the works were executed properly.

Pointing out that there need not be any reason for shortage of funds as the Jiribam-Imphal railway projects are National projects, the source explained that the Railway authority seems to have no plan in mind to ensure completion of the project by December 2029.On the other hand, there is no pressure from the State Government as well.

Otherwise, the Government would have approached the NF Railway authority as well as the Central Government to ensure timely payment of the contractors for satisfactory progress of the work, the source added.

The source cautioned that if the State Government fails to intervene immediately, the said National project might fall flat on its face, let alone bring prosperity and a cheap means of transportation for the State.

The source further mentioned that the contractors recently met the General Manager of NF Railway, at Malegaon, Guwahati, to appeal for release of funds but instead the contractors were allegedly told to either stop or slow down the work as he could not say when the funds will be released as he has no information regarding fund release from the Railway Board.

Such situations can happen only when there is lack of planning regarding fund management at NF Railway HQ Malegaon and it is quite apparent that the railway project works in Manipur has not been given any priority, the source added.

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