NHAI seeks nod to resume work on stalled projects

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6

The 21-day lockdown to contain the outbreak of coronavirus has obstructed the execution of infrastructure projects in Punjab and Haryana. Facing inordinate delay, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has written a letter to the district administrations of the two states for the resumption of pending works.

There are around 18 projects in Punjab and Haryana which are under various stages of completion. In a letter to the respective Deputy Commissioners of Punjab and Haryana, the project implementation unit (PIU) concerned of the NHAI has sought permission for continuing the construction work during the lockdown period.

“Due to the invocation of Section 144 of the CrPC, there has been restriction on mobilisation of requisite manpower and machinery, which has affected the construction work since March 22,” states a letter addressed to one of the Deputy Commissioners of Punjab.

According to officials, all construction activity has come to a standstill since March 22.

The PIU has requested the district administration for granting necessary permission and passes to the concessionaire (company executing the project). It has also sought to allow movement of company vehicles for procurement of raw material for smooth working at the site. In addition to this, it has also requested for the movement of route patrol vehicle for the safety of road furniture, highway lighting and toll equipment.

According to the sources, the human resource in many of the sites is still there and instead of keeping them in a ‘lockdown’ situation, it will be better if they are deployed at the construction site.

The lockdown has led to unfinished and partially complete work, resulting in the losses to the NHAI, concessionaire and commuters at large, which can be minimised if the pending work could be completed. It is also perceived that the projects will be further delayed leading to cost overruns.

Furthermore, with the funding woes of the banking sector and the overall fragile economic scenario, it will be difficult for the executing company of getting additional limit in case of the delay.

According to Naredco — a real estate regulatory body — real estate and construction support 250-plus industries. If work at real estate sites is allowed to resume with due safety precautions, the economic impact will also be positive.

As the country grapples with the lockdown in an attempt to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic from going out of control, there is an apprehension that the closing down of work will hurt the country’s GDP.