HC Kohima Bench gives NHIDCL authorities, ‘new’ contractor till Jan 15 to take final decision
Morung Express News
Kohima | December 19
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has informed the Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench that it received three proposals from the M/S RAMKY-ECI (JV) along with project cost estimate for Package – III of the NH 29.
The proposals were made after the Court on December 14 directed the NHIDCL authorities and RAMKY-ECI(JV) to have a deliberation over the Package-III taking into account, among others, the public interest involved and noting that it’s progress “has become a non-starter causing a lot of inconvenience to the commuters.”
So far, the contracts of two contractors have been terminated with regard to the Package-III of the ongoing National Highway-29 four-lane project roughly covering the Piphema to Jotsoma stretch (Design Km 152.490 to Km 166.700).
Resuming the hearing on the ongoing sou motu public interest litigation on NH-29 four-lane project on Monday, the NHIDCL authorities prayed for some time to look into the proposals and to further deliberate with the contractor of Package I &II (M/S RAMKY-ECI JV) and thereafter, to take a decision at the highest level as to whether the proposals were acceptable or not.
The General Manager, NHIDCL, who was also present in the Court, further submitted that if the proposals submitted are not acceptable, it would take further steps to bring out a better option for the completion of Package-III.
The General Manager also assured the Division Bench of Justices LS Jamir and Songkhupchung Serto that the two-lane with regard to Package-III, which is presently under maintenance, would be fully completed before March 2023 as per the project specifications.
In view of the submissions, the Bench directed the NHIDCL and Contractor to have further deliberation and come to a final decision on or before January 15, 2023 and file an affidavit.
The NHIDCL authorities will also bring out the alternative proposal for completion of Package-III if the present proposals made by the Contractor are not acceptable in the said affidavit and submit it on or before January 17, 2023, it directed.
Meanwhile, the Bench said that it was satisfied with the affidavit filed on December 14 by the NHIDCL indicating the steps taken by its authorities on receipt of the amount of Rs. 11.12 Crore from the previous contractor.
The Bench also directed the M/S RAMKY-ECI JV to ensure that Package-I and II are completed on or before January 15, 2023.
This PIL was taken up in 2019 when it came to the knowledge of the Court that the project which was to be completed in the month of September 2019 has not been completed.
