Date:09/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020951890300.htm

Karnataka

Contractors blamed for delay in roadworks

Correspondent

SIRSI: “Failure” of contractors and cost escalation are the reasons for the delay in road and bridge works coming under the Public Works Department (PWD), T. Sukumar, Secretary PWD, has said.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday after inaugurating the work on a Rs. 2-crore mini Vidhana Soudha here, he said PWD officials had been instructed to take up road and bridge works if the contractors failed to do so. On the delay in completion of Sirsi-Yellapur Road under the Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (KSHIP), he said that it was unfortunate that the work had not been completed even after five years of commencement and change of contractors. Roads under the PWD in the district had been damaged by trucks transporting manganese. The department had asked the Government to ban movement of such trucks, he said.

Before February 15, potholes on major roads would be filled, he said.