All’s not well with National Highway-37 in upper Assam

NHIDCL on the verge of terminating contracts for two packages

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: No end to the construction of four-lane National Highway-37 projects in upper Assam! With the snail’s pace of the construction works troubling travellers, the NHIDCL (National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.) is on its way to act tough against the construction companies running behind schedules. The big craters and potholes on a few stretches of the Jorhat-Jhanji section of the national highway continue to give travellers a harrowing experience during this rainy season. This project by Vijeta Projects and Sweety Infrastructure (a joint venture) has been running far behind schedule due to the very slow progress of the work.

The NHIDCL critically reviewed the work of the four-lane project from Jorhat to Bogibeel Junction near Lepetkota. This stretch has four packages. After the review, NHIDCL has sent termination notices (intention to terminate) to the construction companies of two of the four packages in this stretch. The companies issued termination notices are Vijeta Projects-Sweety Infrastructure (a joint venture) and M/S Manoranjan Brahma due to slow progress of works from Jorhat-Jhanji and the End of Moran Bypass to Bogibeel Junction near Lepetkota, respectively.

The original target schedule of the Jorhat-Jhanji package was August 8, 2023, and the cumulative physical progress of the work till the last month was around 35.48 percent. NHIDCL awarded the package to the construction company at a cost of Rs 220.40 crore.

The original target schedule of the package from the End of Moran Bypass to Bogibeel Junction near Lepetkota was December 4, 2021, and the cumulative physical progress of the work till last month was around 65.29 percent. The NHIDCL awarded this package to the construction company at a cost of Rs 223.50 crore. The NHIDCL headquarters in New Delhi and its Guwahati office have been keeping a close watch on these two packages and may take the final decision at any moment. Though the contract termination process is yet to be finalised, the NHIDCL is ready with Plan B. And as part of Plan B, NHIDCL has already floated a tender for the Jorhat-Jhanji package of the national highway.

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