Nagpur:
Road works worth Rs3,607.34 crore are set to be launched in various parts of Vidarbha after the monsoon. Further Rs3,133.26 crore road works are at the tendering stage and are likely to begin later in the year. Thus, road works worth Rs6,740.60 crore will be executed across the region very soon.
Of the first lot of road works worth Rs3,607.34 crore, 18 packages comprising two to five roads each, and costing Rs3,044.08 crore, will be executed in Nagpur revenue division. Similarly, four packages costing Rs563.26 crore will be executed in Amravati revenue division. The state’s public works department (PWD) has issued letter of award to contractors for 22 packages. Works will start after execution of agreements.
The tendering process for more four packages costing Rs381.88 crore is going on for Nagpur division, and 18 packages costing Rs2,751.38 crore for Amravati division.
Under one of the packages, city’s two major roads — North Ambazari Road from Jhansi Rani Square to Subhash Nagar T-point, and Ambazari T-point to University Campus Square will be concretized. At present, the two roads are in very bad condition due to lack of repairs for last many years.
Under the project, Vidarbha will get roads stretching 2,456.50km, some 1,198km in six districts of Nagpur division, and 1,257.67km in five districts of Amravati division.
The PWD used to execute road works worth around Rs400 crore every year in each of the two divisions in the region. The projects used to be worth a maximum Rs25 crore each.
For the first time, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and PWD minister Chandrakant Patil have planned road works on a large scale under new hybrid annuity model. Here, the contractor is supposed to complete the given project in two years and get 40% of total cost. Remaining 60% will be paid in equal instalments over 10 years. Therefore, PWD could take up road works on such a large scale.
PWD chief engineer Ulhas Debadwar told TOI the highlight of the project is that the contractor is liable for repairs and maintenance of the road for 10 years. “Earlier, defect liability period was for maximum three years. Thus, new model will ensure quality in road works and convenience for citizens over a longer time. This was the vision of Fadnavis and Patil,” he said.
Debadwar added micro seal surfacing of the roads will be done after three years, and strengthening after seven years, to ensure there are no problems on the roads for 10 years. “PWD minister and secretary CP Joshi have incorporated this in the project itself. Therefore, there is no reason for the roads to be damaged for 10 years,” he said.
The response from contractors to big road projects in Vidarbha is always very lukewarm. Nagpur division managed to get good response due to Debadwar and his team’s efforts. Contractors from Hyderabad and various parts of the state participated. Amravati division is facing some problems but is expected to complete tendering process of remaining packages successfully.
