By RABINARAYAN JENA, OP
Bhubaneswar: The Works Department has adopted a strict stance against contractors delaying or neglecting road construction projects, warning of stringent action against agencies failing to meet prescribed targets.
The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting held Wednesday under the chairmanship of Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan to assess the progress of National Highway projects across Odisha.
The meeting, held in the second-floor conference hall of Nirman Soudha, reviewed the progress of National Highway projects and those under the state’s NH divisions, each costing more than `50 crore. Around 20 road projects were examined, including the 240-km Raipur Visakhapatnam Road Corridor and the road connecting Chandikhole and Paradip.
During the meeting, departmental Principal Secretary Sanjay Singh briefed the participants on challenges affecting construction, including land acquisition, forest land clearances and other pending issues.
He also advised departmental officials and engineers to coordinate with various departments to expedite construction, make extensive use of the Bhumirashi portal and ensure that projects meet their set targets. The Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers were specifically advised to take stringent action against contractors found negligent in executing road construction work.
