e-governance for Karnataka road projects

Our Bureau

BANGALORE, Dec.4

THE Public Works Department in Karnataka has put in place an e-governance programme that will streamline the gamut of project design, financial management and contract management for speedier implementation of the projects.

The PWD has developed a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based Road Information system to reduce the project planning and implementation time.

Informing this here , Mr L.V.Nagarajan, Chief Project Officer, Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project, said a modern computerised project financial management systems (PFMS) was under preparation that will relate procurement, physical progress monitoring and contract management with financial flows.

Addressing the Federation of Karnataka chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Mr Nagarajan said e-Governance was one of the important reforms process that will change the approach to implementing the key infrastructure project like roads in the State.

Under a Road Policy, the Government undertake several steps to give priority to strengthen the State highways and major district roads to provide quality road links to the trade and business.

In this regard he pointed out that one of the important steps was to outsource for the project maintenance of about 7,3000 km of State highways on a three-year contract basis under strict conformity conditions.

In a departure from awarding projects to a number of small contractors, the State agency of Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. has decided to follow the principle of one contract to one district to avoid delays and eliminate poor quality works.