The State Urban Administration and Development (UAD) Department has directed the district collectors to issue work orders regarding infrastructure development related to city bus project by January 28. The directives were issued following warning by the Central Government to stop payments for the project if copy of the work orders is not provided by January 31.
The order issued by Principal Secretary, UAD, RP Mandal on Tuesday states that out of nine Urban Public Transport Societies (UPTS), constituted in the State for the city bus project, eight have issued work orders for purchase of buses except Korba. However, none of them have provided work order for infrastructure development (depots and terminals) for the project despite repeated reminders.
The order mentions about the meeting of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) for the city bus project held in New Delhi on January 6. In the meeting, the Department has been asked to issue work order and provide the copies of work order for infrastructure development to the Centre by January 31. It has been warned that fund for the project will not be released if the copy of work order is not provided in time.
UAD has asked the UPTSs to complete the tender process in 15 days and provide the copy of work order to State Urban Development Authority (SUDA), the nodal agency for the project, by January 28. If the work order for infrastructure development regarding the city bus project is not provided in time and the funds are not released by the Central Government, then action will be taken against the concerned officer, the order states.
UPTS have been constituted for city bus project in Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, Korba, Raigarh, Koriya, Surguja and Bastar.