Lack of coordination delays opening of Haryana Roadways sub-depot in Mahendragarh
Ravinder Saini
Mahendragarh, April 13
The inauguration of the newly constructed building of the sub-depot of the Haryana Roadways in Mahendragarh town is getting delayed reportedly due to the lack of coordination between the Transport Department and the Public Works Department (B&R).
The local transport authorities say some work pertaining to the electrical wing of the PWD (B&R) is yet to be completed hence its officials have been asked to do so while local officials of the electrical wing claim that no work is pending and the building is ready for inauguration.
Work of electrical wing remaining
Many deficiencies have been rectified, but the work pertaining to the electrical wing is still pending. Our head office has also written to the Engineering-in-Chief (PWD) for the completion of pending work at the earliest. —Naveen Kumar, General manager, Narnaul Depot of Haryana Roadways
Only work on lift in progress
}Only the work pertaining to lift is in progress and the roadways authorities can use the building any time. All work regarding our wing was completed over six months ago and we had intimated the higher authorities in this regard. —Dinesh Singh, SDO (Electrical wing), PWD
Significantly, the Shri Sundaram Trust has adopted a different way to attract the attention of the state government towards the issue. It has put up hoardings on auto-rickshaws with interesting slogans. “Any minister is needed to inaugurate the sub-depot of Mahendragarh. The minister will be given TA and DA,” is one of the slogans.
As per information, the foundation stone of the sub-depot was laid in July 2019 after Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the project during a public rally held in Mahendragarh town. The locals had been raising the demand for a long time following inadequate services of roadways buses, especially on interior routes.
“It is unfortunate that the sub-depot has been awaiting inauguration for over a year but the authorities are not paying any heed towards it while the project will strengthen the public transportation in the district,” said Ram Niwas, a resident, adding that locals had been facing a lot of inconvenience due to non-availability of buses on long routes too.
Sources said the construction work of the sub-depot was completed last year and a team of the Transport Department visited there to inspect the work. It found some deficiencies and asked the PWD officials to rectify these.
“More than 20 deficiencies regarding the floor, lift system, CCTV cameras, lighting etc were found when a team from our head office inspected the construction work. Many of the deficiencies have been rectified but the work pertaining to the electrical wing is still pending. Our head office has also written to the Engineering-in-Chief (PWD) for completion of the pending work at the earliest,” said Naveen Kumar, General Manager, Narnaul Depot of Haryana Roadways.
He maintained on the exesub-depot would have a separate fleet of at least 35 buses. “It will ensure bus services on many local and long routes. The sub-depot has been constructed at the cost of Rs 6.50 crore,” the GM added.
Stone was laid at M’garh in 2019
The foundation stone of the sub-depot was laid in July 2019 after Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the project during a public rally held in Mahendragarh town. The locals had been raising the demand for a long time following inadequate services of roadways buses, especially on interior routes.
