Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 5: The state government has initiated the process for appointing performance audit consultant (PAC) for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to ensure quality in construction of road projects in the rural areas.
Accordingly, the Chief Engineer of PMGSY Orissa on behalf of Orissa State Rural Roads Agency (OSRRA) has invited expression of interest from reputed firms for appointment of PAC.
As per the government’s third party audit proposal, the consultants will have to audit at least 20 per cent of the ongoing PMGSY contracts in the state in a year by deploying two teams of experts for a period of five months.
The teams will include highway engineer, procurement specialist, environment and social specialist as well quality control engineer and quality auditor among others.
More than 1,000 road projects launched several years ago are yet to be completed while construction of about 3,000 roads has been deferred.
While implementation of PMGSY in the state has always remained a challenge, lack of road quality is also another issue.
The Centre has so far provided Rs 17,815 crore to the state by the end of last financial year since the PMGSY’s launch.
Of the total 11,694 rural roads and 292 bridges approved by Centre till this March end, 9,241 roads and 134 bridges have been completed with an investment of Rs 14,578 crore.
The state government has earmarked Rs 2,750 crore in 2016-17 for construction of roads to 2,050 villages.
