RTI activists seek to change payment terms to NH construction companies
Seeking to address major public inconveniences on the incomplete National Highway and putting toll plazas on the unfinished NH or four lanes RTI activists devised a noble suggestion to NHAI and the Ministry of Roads Transport and Highway to amend PAMTC rules.
A memorandum has been submitted to Ramesh Chand Bhardwaj, an RTI and social activist to Vipin Kumar, Executive Engineer of, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi, through Sub Divisional Officer Sarkaghat in this regard.
He said that changes in the payment terms major terms and conditions of the contract agreement of NHAI would rid prevailing the problems faced by the people due to the commissioning of the unfinished National Highway in mid of construction.
He alleged that the final 25 percent payment to both the road building and quality checking companies should be released after one and a half years of construction of the road and on a priority basis, bolting of rocks, drains, lifting of mud from the road, sprinkling of water should be a compulsory requirement for construction of roads.
It has been requested to include and change the rules like installing ramps up to the upper level, building rain shelters, and providing ambulances, etc. to the laborers at the work site, etc. in the contract agreement.
According to the memorandum as per the contract agreement, the MORTH has entrusted LN Malviya Infra Projects Private Limited with the responsibility of checking the quality of road works like bridges, etc., and ensuring safety parameters.
He has also demanded the filling of vacant posts of Project Director, PIU Hamirpur, Personal Assistant, Stenographer, Revenue Surveyor, and two Public Relations Officers through the same memorandum.
He said that complaints and RTI remained pending before NHAI due to a shortage of functional staff.
The state suffered massive losses due to shortage and poor construction by the firms across the state however people were asked to pay toll plazas in mid of the unfinished National Highway project in the state.
