Probe on, Panchkula MC not to start second phase of road repair

In the first phase, tenders were invited for the work valued at Rs 19.28 crore: Rs 7.5 crore for the repair of internal roads in Industrial Area, Phase -I and II, Rs 11.78 crore for repair of dividing roads of 14/15,11/12,14/12A, 8/9, 9/10, 15/16 and 2/4, Sector 15 and parts of Mansa Devi Complex, and Rs 10 lakh was kept aside for the patching of paved roads.

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In the second phase, the corporation had prepared an estimate for repair of the other main roads: Rs 5.50 crore for the repair of the main road from the Chandigarh Housing Board to Raili village, and Rs 5.30 crore for the repair of the road from Industrial Area, Phase-I, to Labour Chowk.

However, in the background of the raging controversy over the alleged use of sub-standard material in the construction of roads and other irregularities in the first phase of work, the corporation has decided to postpone the decision to open bids for other tenders. The vigilance department has recommended a formal probe into the case in its preliminary report.

“Keeping in view the entirety of circumstances, we are currently not considering starting work under the second phase. I have learnt from papers that the vigilance has pointed out certain irregularities in its preliminary report. Since I’m not completely aware of the findings of the report, and which all officials have been indicted in it, we will have to wait for sometime and then start the work later,” Municipal Commissioner Jagdeep Thanda told Newsline.
Apart from alleged use of sub-standard material, the contractors have also been stalling the work demanding release of payment. While the work was initially stalled in April for few weeks, the contractors have again stalled the work at various places, leading to complaints from residents.

“It was after a gap of several years that the roads of Panchkula were being re-carpeted, and we had hoped that the problem of bad roads will be addressed. But with the recently re-carpeted roads cracking within few weeks and the work being stalled, we have no option but to believe that the story of bad condition of roads will remain the same,” said Subhash Papneja, a representative of the Residents’ Welfare Association, Sector 16.

However, MC Commissioner Jagdeep Thanda said, “There has been no formal communication with the contractors about stopping the work due to the inquiry. They are supposed to complete the work. But I have seen that the work has been left midway at some places. I will look into the matter.”

Asserting that the corporation will co-operate with the Vigilance Department in the inquiry, Thanda said that since the matter pertained to the corporation, “we will provide all necessary support in the form of documents, records required”.