Agartala, Apr 21, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk
Agartala, Apr 21 : For the last about three years Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd, a Hyderabad-based construction contractor seems to have been taking the Agartala Smart City authorities for a ride.
The Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd which was entrusted with works to ‘upgrade and widen’ the most important Airport road, has not only failed to make any progress, except some half-finished patch works or half-done drain works- but is also reported to have been dilly-dallying with the payment for the local sub-contractors from whom they took materials or other supports.
The company has been given the letter of agreement by the Agartala Smart City Ltd on February 22, 2021 for “Up-gradation and widening of existing airport road from two lanes to four lanes starting from Lichubagan to Airport new terminal building –including defects liability period of one year”. The length of the road stands approximate 5 kms. (2020_CEO_13471_1. LOA No: F.4(14)/ASCL/2018/987 dated 22.02.2021).
The contract agreement value has been estimated at more than Rs 90 crore (exact figure being Rs 91,67,45,057.53).
However, though almost three years have passed the construction company neither could complete the work (at the most only 20 per cent was done) nor they appear at all bothered about the half done works that brought about immense difficulties and sufferings for the commuters, locals and roadside business facilities, offices or households.
It is surprising, indeed, that while many other massive constructions works – all over the country and even in this state -could be accomplished at a much faster rate, Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd has miserably failed to make any headway for about last three years. As if this is not enough there are also allegations of poor quality works in places where the half done widening, drain works etc have been carried out.
What is most annoying is the fact that Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd time and again has even declined to carry out the Agartala Smart City Ltd instructions. For example, when the G20 Science Summit was held in Agartala, the ASCL asked the Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd to at least make some up-gradation of the small stretch of the road from Albert Ekka park area as the area would be visited by foreign dignitaries. But the company did not carry out the work and the ASCL had to engage two local contractors who managed to complete the task in time.
The main project plan includes among others underground electricity lines, water lines, gas lines, internet cables etc. Underground sewers will also pass below the ground for the disposal of garbage.
There will be four to six feet of pavement above.
However, it does not need an expert or an engineer but any laymen while walking or driving on the Airport road can notice that the entire works by the Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd are being done in a haphazard and unscientific manner.
Since the work has started, the men engaged by the contractor company are cutting the earth for the drain on the side of the road. A few days after the soil is filled, the contractors appointed for the pipeline work of TNGCL come and begin the earthwork again. After a few days, the contractors of Vidyut Nigam come to install the electricity poles, and then come to some others- all go randomly without any coordination.
Many are of the opinion that sewers that will be built under the ground, will not be able to discharge all the garbage in the near future and water will enter people's houses due to clogged drains. Besides, there seems to be no plan as to where the underground drain water will go..
Apart from that neither the ASCL nor the contractors have announced where the locals may get help if they have any problems.
One of the problems that the locals are facing is that neither the ASCL nor Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd feels the need to talk to the owner of the house in front of which these activities are taking place.
In most of the places where the earth excavation was done, the heap of soil is being left in front of the civilian houses for months by the construction company and whenever homeowners complain they are told to go to the ASCL and talk to the officials. And the ASCL officials maintain that Vasishta will look into the matter.
What is glaring is that till date not a single signboard giving details of the works has been put up anywhere along the road as per rules. According to the rules, there must be signboards to inform people about the details of the ongoing works as to how many kms of the road will be under the task at hand, how many days will be required to complete the works, what type of technologies are being used, all the outlines of the works and the name of the contractor company. According to manuals of PWD and CPWD, these are also to be done before starting the work for any project.
In the meantime, several local contractors who were engaged or who supplied materials allege that Vasishta Construction Pvt Ltd fails to pay their dues- in total according to them- the amount would touch about Rs10-12 crore over the last three years.
Sources have said, the ASCL authorities are also seriously frustrated with the Vasishta. And the matter has also gone at the highest level. According to sources Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha is likely to hold a meeting on the matter and take some important decisions.