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| CVC raises red flag; questions use of low-priced steel, undue benefits | | Chenani-Nashri tunnel construction | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 3: Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) has raised red flag over the manner in which construction of 9 kilometre long Chenani-Nashri tunnel is going on.
CVC has pointed out various irregularities and said that the construction is not going on as per the agreement which the contractor namely Chenani Nashri Tunnel Way Limited (CNTWL) had signed with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Commission has said that there are several loopholes in the construction work and no effort is being made by the contractor to address these loopholes at the earliest.
These glaring shortcomings have been pointed out by Technical Examiner of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Mukesh Saxena in a report on the intensive examination of work being done for the rehabilitation, strengthening and four laning of Chenani-Nashri Section of National Hiighway-1A from Kilometer 89 to 130 through 9 kilometre double lane tunnel which is being constructed on BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) basis by Chenani Nashri Tunnel Way Limited (CNTWL).
Saxena was assisted by Assistant Technical Examiner V.P. Verma. The two examiners carried out this examination in the month of August 2014 for around 10 days. Report says that as per the NHAI directions, CNTWL had to submit a monthly undertaking that they have deposited all the tax, cess, and levies to concerned authorities but no copy of such undertaking as well as challans of the cess payments were shown during inspection. Besides, as per Article 4.3 of schedule D-1, reinforcement steel wire mesh was to be used for lining works.
However, it was observed that Poly Fibre Shotcrete has been used instead of agreement item of wire mesh. CVC report has held out that undue benefits had been passed on to the Chenani Nashri Tunnel Way Limited (CNTWL) by permitting the use of Shyam Steel instead of steel from original producers in relaxation of clause 1009.3 of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways specifications for roads and bridges.
According to this clause, all steel has to be procured from the original producers and no rerolled steal shall be incorporated in the work. In general, the steel from primary producers i.e. SAIL, TISCO and RINI is considered to conform to above specifications i.e. steel from original producers. The steel from Shyam Steel Industries Limited may be conforming to laid down specifications but may not be treated as steel from original producers as per general understanding in construction industry.
The steel from Shyam Steel Industries Limited is usually cheaper i.e. around 15 percent less than the steel from above mentioned primary producer. Use of Shyam steel has resulted into passing of undue benefit to contractor. After this stinging remark, CVC has asked the contractor to calculate financial implications and convey the same to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Technical Examiner of the CVC who visited the site of the work has in his report further said that site order book was missing alongwith Hindrance Register, Test Register, Cement Register. This is despite the fact that these records are essential for supervision of quality and progress of the work. This inspection took place on August 27, 2014 in the presence of Manager (Vigilance) Amrinder Singh, Project Director NHAI R.P. Singh, Project Director J.S. Rathore and Team Leader Valentin Salcedo.
During the inspection, team further noticed that cement bags were not stored in cement godown as per specifications. Reinforcement was lying on the ground due to which north port had got rusted. Rutting, ravelling and pot holes were observed at various places on the existing service road. Signage and markings, delineators, hazard markings, safety barriers, pedestrian guardrails were found missing near portals.
It needs to be mentioned here that Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORT&H) has taken a strategic decision to develop the North-South corridor connecting Srinagar (J&K) to Kanya Kumari (Tamil Nadu). The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been appointed by MORT&H, to implement this development. NHAI have appointed the Louis Berger Group, Inc., USA, in Joint Ventures with LRP Consultants, India and in association with L&T Ramboll, India, and D2 Consultant for Tunnel as consultants to carry out the detailed design, for the Patnitop Tunnel of the NH-1A, between Udhampur and Banihal (Km 66 to Km. 188) in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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