‘ERA to miss deadline on ADB contract package’

Natipora-Nowgam, Newa-Pulwama road projects incomplete

BILAL HUSSAIN

The contract packages worth Rs 27.27 crore of Natipora-Nowgam in Budgam and Newa-Pulwama Road in Pulwama districts of the Kashmir valley executed by the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA)—special purpose vehicle for implementation of externally aided projects— is expected to get further delayed. About 70 per cent contract progress on the project till date, as per the official website of ERA.
The project on two roads of length 23.79 Km is funded by the Asian Development Bank under loan package of 2151-IND. According to the official website of ERA, as of date Rs 15.0919 cr is expended on the contact as of now. The BJCL firm has been awarded the contract on May 15, 2007 and the work started on June 13, 2007. As per the initial agreement the project was expected to be completed on July 10, 2009. However, the date of completion of the project was revised to September 30, 2010.
According to the official information there are few handling issues like utility shifting with PDD, “huge utility shifting involved which is required to be taken at higher level.”
“Land acquisition: section 4 issued. File likely to be submitted to DC (Pulwama) for conducting of PNC for 4 marlas of land at Parigam.”
Laying of wet mix and DBM for length of 12.60 kms completed and BM for a length of 2.5 kms completed is the achievement as of date.
The project completion period for the ADB’s first project to Jammu and Kashmir, Multi-sector Project for Infrastructure Rehabilitation (MPIR) is June 2011. Earlier project completion date was June 2009. Government of India has been requested for extension of project completion period till June 2011 and subsequently GOI has recommended extension to ADB.
Earlier Kashmir Times reported that the major portion of total 83 contract packages were work had been allotted to various contractors, which amounts to package value of Rs 1119.34 crore have not been completed. . At present 69 per cent of the projects have alerts. According to sources in the agency the key reason in delays in completion of the projects is due to the frequent change of head adding that the additional charge also affected the functioning of the projects.
To mention, the project ‘MPIR loan 2151-IND’ is first externally aided project funded by ADB. The estimated cost of the Project is Rs 1611 crores. ADB loan component is Rs 1125 crore and counter part fund component is Rs 486 crores. Counter Part fund is borne by government of India under PMRP. Project completion period was June 2009. Government of India has been requested for extension of project completion period till June 2010 and subsequently GOI has recommended extension to ADB.