Will not compromise on work quality of Wokha-Merapani road: Lotha Hoho

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 20 (MExN): The Lotha Hoho on Friday urged the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to implement the road rehabilitation of the Wokha-Merapani road at the earliest and to adhere to work specifications, without compromising on work quality.  

A press statement received from Lotha Hoho chairman Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary Er. Mhondamo Ovung said the Wokha-Merapani road is a historic and traditional road connecting Wokha district with Assam district of Golaghat and Jorhat as well as Mokokchung and Mon via Assam.  

Being the shortest road connecting Assam with Wokha district, most of the daily commercial activities such as supply of consumable household & grocery items, vegetables, meat, fish, some hardware items like sand, bricks, rods, cement etc are transported through this road.  

While the NHIDCL has been authorized to carry out the execution of the rehabilitation works of Wokha- Merapani Road during 2017- 18, for an amount of Rs.190 crore, the Hoho said the NHIDCL had accepted the tender for the work at 21% below Schedule of Rate (SOR) and work order issued to the contractor, one M/S C.S. Infra Construction (Pvt) Ltd.  

Now, with the contractor for the work reportedly subletting the work to other local contractors, the Hoho noted that the decrease in amount for the work due to lower tender rate at 21% below amounts to Rs 39.90 crore and hence the net amount available would be Rs 150.10 crore only.  

Hence the NHIDCL, accepting a tender rate of 21% below SOR and issuing work order at such extremely low rate and further subletting to sub contractors, is seen as malpractice and a hindrance to work quality, the Hoho maintained.  

However, irrespective of the tender rate, the Hoho said the beneficiary community road users will insist on adherence to work specifications and will not allow any agency to compromise the work quality due to either lower tender rate or sub letting.  

Also pointing out that the Wokha-Merapani road serves as the survival link for the district, the Hoho felt that the road needs to be upgraded to a National Highway immediately.