Even as several bridges have collapsed during the last few years, yet the honeymoon between the Works Department and erring contractors seem to be still continuing, and the bonhomie has caused of delay in completion of projects and cost the State exchequer dearly.
The Jatamundia-Subarnapur bridge over the Mahanad river at Jatamundia in Cuttack district is just an example.
The construction of the bridge started in 2008. The Rajalaxmi Construction, which was given the contract, was supposed to complete the construction in 2011.
But it took another five years to complete it. The delay caused excess spending of Rs 7 crore more as the estimate increased from Rs 54 crore to Rs 61 crore.
Besides, during the construction, the bridge collapsed twice. After the collapse of the bridge, present Works Secretary Er Nalinikanta Pradhan said executing agency Rajlaxmi Constructions would complete the remaining work with its own expenditure and no expenses would be incurred by the State Government.
later, the same Rajalaxmi Construction was awarded contract of the Ramiala bridge in Kamakhyanagar of Dhenkanal district.
The Ramiala bridge supposed to be completed by May 2014 nit was completed after two years in 2016. After the company asked for an extension of time (EOT), the Works Department approved the EOT in letter no. 6302/ 8.2. 2018 on the condition that it had to pay penalty and there would not be any price escalation.
But officials said that instead of paying penalty the company is still trying many illegal ways for price escalation with a view to making up the huge profits, and for this act the efficient officers of the department are being punished, alleged many.