Representational Image | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala public works department has established maintenance contracts for 80 per cent of the roads under the department. Out of the 29,553 km road of the PWD, 20,018 km now have a running contract (project introduced by the government to ensure maintenance of roads). Besides, 3,825 km of road is under defect liability period (mandatory 6 months maintenance under the construction contract). With this, a total of 23,843 km of road now have a maintenance contract.
A total of 7,685 km of road has been newly included in the running contract project by spending Rs 183 crore. This has received technical approval. Tender procedures will be completed within a month and the roads will be handed over to the contractors. The running contract system was introduced for roads that have completed the defect liability period. The contractor is liable to ensure that the roads are in good condition for at least a year.
Contracts were given for 3,123 kilometres in the first phase of the running contract project. The term of this contract will be complete in April, May. The tender was for Rs 137 crore. In the second phase, contracts were given for the maintenance of 9,210 kilometres of road for Rs 182 crore, this expires in September.
According to the rule, the contractor has to do repair work for six months after the expiry of the running contract.
PWD minister PA Mohamed Riyas said that department officials are responsible to make sure that the contractors repair the damages. A special team of officers will be appointed to check if there are any lapses on the officials’ side, the minister said.
Notice boards with the details of the PWD officials and the contractors will be placed on the sides of all roads so that the public can convey the complaints easily.
RELATED STORIES
.jpg?$p=818dc93&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=818dc93&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=96852b9&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=fad68fb&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=46e3dc0&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
