Negligence of district administration and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has lead to a delay of two major road construction projects of Hazaribagh, including construction of four lane roads of Ranchi-Patna Highway (NH-33) between Hazaribagh town and another in Barhi beside the bypass of the Ranchi-Patna stretch.
District officials blamed NHAI and said that neither machines nor labourers were engaged properly to complete this project on time.
The contract of four lane construction at Hazaribagh-Barhi road was awarded to Ramki Construction for an estimated cost of Rs.600 crore. The company was also given the work of 10-km long bypass, which is a part of this NH-33, but passing from the outer periphery of the town via Canary Hill area.
Liaison officer of Ramki, Satish Singh said that the project got delayed as land acquisition is still pending at certain areas of this 40-km stretch. He said, “Maximum work is pending from Bonga to Ichak as compensation is still not paid to the beneficiaries and the work of shifting a hanuman temple has not been done.”
Singh said that the company has enough resources to complete both the work in next six months but they need the support of district administration.
“A number of letters have been sent to officials to get these matters sorted out at the earliest but in vain,” he said.
About bypass, Singh said that the forest department forced them to construct an underpass on the under construction bypass which would lead to the office of the department situated near Canary Hill.
“A fresh proposal was sent to union government for approval to make an underpass and so project get delayed,” he said.
However, sources informed that NHAI had failed to provide funds, which was another big reason for the delay of the two projects.
Deputy collector (land reforms) Shabbir Ahmad blamed NHAI and Ramki Construction, claiming that both delayed the projects without any reason. He said, “If the company was having any problem, why did they not inform us about it for the last three months?”
Ahmad further said that both the district administration and state authorities reviewed this project and issued instruction to the company for completion of this project as soon as possible.