Elevated road work under scanner

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 21

The vigilance wing of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is learnt to have initiated a probe into alleged violation of certain clauses of the agreement by the construction agency and deficiencies in the ongoing construction work for 12.95-km four-lane elevated highway from Samrala Chowk to city limits on National Highway 95. The violations by the agency and deficiencies in work were pointed out by a body of engineers, Feedback Infra (consultants appointed by the NHAI), and a detailed report was carried in Ludhiana Tribune in its issue of March 31.

It was on the basis of information obtained from the Project Implementation Unit of the NHAI (located here) by the Council of RTI Activists president Rohit Sabharwal under the Right to Information Act that a formal complaint was lodged with the NHAI about various deficiencies in the existing highway and a lack of safety measures in violation of clauses 10.4 and 16.1 of the contract agreement by the construction agency.

In a letter (no. 13029/Misc./2019/Vig/133544 dated April 12, 2019) to Sabharwal, the General Manager (Vig.)-II of the NHAI, has sought to verify the address of the complainant and also asked if, apart from the charges levelled against the construction agency in his complaint vide letter dated March 26, 2019, some more information or documents in support of the complaint were available with the complainant. The letter mentioned that the matter had been taken up with the approval of the Chief Vigilance Officer (of NHAI).

As per the complaint lodged by Sabharwal (on the basis of information procured under the RTI Act), the authority’s engineers (Feedback Infra) had pointed out (in a letter dated February 13, 2019): “During the site inspection of the project highway, it is observed that there are several potholes on the existing highway. The location of potholes has become very dangerous and is prone to accidents. The situation is very alarming and dangerous for commuters.”

In a subsequent letter, the construction agency was told by the consultants that several expansion joints in the ISBT flyover, Dugri flyover, Gill Chowk flyover, Partap Chowk flyover and Dholewal ROB were found in damaged conditions. 

Charging the construction agency with violation of clauses 10.4 and 16.1 of the agreement, the consultants had issued directions for erection and maintenance of  barricades, traffic signs, warning signs, flags, lighting, delineators, cat eyes, rumble strips, zebra strips and LED ropes wherever required.

Sabharwal said through a letter dated April 20, he had confirmed in writing about having lodged a complaint about deficiencies in the construction of the elevated highway as pointed out by the authority’s engineers and follow-up letters to the construction agency by the Project Implementation Unit of the NHAI.