Vehicles drive past an excavator engaged in the construction work along a stretch of NH-29 between Dimapur and Kohima. As per the Ministry Of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), works for the four-laning of NH-29 from Dimapur to Kohima, are going “on schedule.” (Morung File Photo)
Balance work of portion of NH-29 four lane project ‘Re-tendered’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 22
Works for most National Highway (NH) projects in Nagaland including the four-laning of the NH-29 from Dimapur to Kohima, are going “on schedule,” the Ministry Of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has informed in reply to a ‘Starred Question’ in the Lok Sabha on July 22.
As per an annexure regarding the details and present status of NHs under construction in the North East States given in the reply, most of the projects which have been started are denoted as “on schedule.”
However, the Package III of the four-laning of NH-29 Dimapur Kohima Road (Km 152.490 to Km 166.700) has been designated as “Re-tendered award for balance work.”
The physical progress (%) of the concerned package (III) is given as 71.69%, as per the reply given by MoRTH Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari.
The particular portion pertains to termination of contract with Gayatri Projects Ltd (GPL) by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for non completion of contract works on time. The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench has recently upheld the decision of the NHIDCL in terminating the contract.
However, the MoRTH’s reply on other two package –I and II, is curious as the “Target date of completion as per contract” is given as March 31, 2021 according to current status of project in Nagaland on NHIDCL’s website.
Meanwhile, a total of 45 NH projects are listed in the annexure for a total length of 899.5 kilometres and “Sanctioned Cost/TPC” of Rs 11762.94 crore.
While for most projects where works have started, the remarks are given as “on schedule,” however, for Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon Road (Km 20-40), it stated that there is a delay “due to LA, Limited Working Season, Agitation by locals, COVID-19, Forest Clearance and Utility Shifting, Slow mobilization by Contractor.”
Package V for “Construction of 2-lane with hard shoulders of Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon road (Wakching Two portion)” is also shown as “under re-bidding.”
Another project- Construction of 2-lane with hard shoulder of Peren-Dimapur section from design Km 126.775 to Km 146.208 (Pkg-2) - has also been designated under the same remarks.
According to the MoRTH Minister Gadkari’s reply, the development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process.
The Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of stretches of NHs, where either Development works have commenced or Operation, Maintenance and Transfer (OMT) Concessions/ Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Contracts have been awarded, is done by the Concessioners/ Contractors till the Defect Liability Period (DLP)/ the Concession Period. M&R of balance stretches of NHs are carried out annually as per available budgetary outlay, inter-se priority and traffic density to keep such NHs in traffic worthy conditions, it said.
Ministry has taken policy decision to also implement M&R of NHs entrusted with State Governments/ UTs through Short Term (One Year) and Medium Term (Three Years) contracts effective from Financial Year 2021-22, besides implementation of works such as Ordinary Repairs (OR), Flood Damage Repairs (FDR), etc., through State Governments/ UTs as per extant policies, it added.
