HC summons consultant firm MD over delay in DPRs

Vijay Arora

Shimla, December 30

Taking a tough stand on the delay in preparing DPRs for the upgrade of Shimla-Mataur four-laning, the High Court has summoned the MD of M/s Inter Continental Consultants & Technocrats, New Delhi, for January 4.  

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel passed the order last week after perusing the status report filed by the NHAI, informing the court that M/s Inter Continental Consultants & Technocrats, New Delhi, was the consultant hired for carrying out a detailed survey of the road. It further revealed that for the purpose of upgrade of four-laning of the Shimla-Mataur national highway, the project had been divided into five packages — Shimla to Shalaghat, Shalaghat to Nauni Chowk, Bagher to the start of Hamirpur bypass, Hamirpur bypass to the start of Jwalamukhi bypass and Jwalamukhi bypass to Kangra bypass.   

It was mentioned that the consultant had submitted the final DPR only in respect of only package number V in November, 2018. 

For the remaining four packages, the consultant had submitted draft DPRs. The record revealed that the consultant was hired on March 24, 2017, and it was required to complete its project of submitting the DPRs before November 29, 2017. The consultant did not do so and the time was further extended till December 31, 2018.    

The court directed the Chairman of the NHAI to intervene in the matter and ensure that the consultant submitted the final DPRs of the four packages by April 30, 2019.