Contractors’ dispute could delay sea link

Of the three agencies threatening to pull out,Roman Tarmat Ltd was about to bag a contract for the Polymer Modified Bitumen surfacing to provide a waterproof road. It has expressed its “inability to execute the work” owing to reasons beyond its control.

According to sources,the agency backed out of the project following allegedly unreasonable conditions on the warranty period for the product from the consultant. “Dar had unreasonable conditions on the sub-contractors. They wanted the PMB product warranty of 10 years,while the sea link contractors,Hindustan Construction Company,itself only has a defect liability period of five years. How could they override the main contractor’s liability period?” a source said.

The consultant has also insisted that the sub-contracting agency must bear “consequential losses” that include items like compensation to victims of accidents caused by surface cracks,revenue losses incurred during stoppage of traffic for repairs,etc. Despite repeated efforts,the representatives of Dar Consultants were unavailable for comments.

Similarly,Bajaj Electricals and Ashwini Infra Development Pvt Ltd,involved in illuminating the 5.6-km sea link and pavement quality concrete work,have also threatened to pull out of the project.

The laying of the wearing course on the deck of the sea link will take nearly 45-50 days of work at a stretch. With the monsoon approaching,there is little time left for the road work,electrical fittings and pavement work,which should be completed before May 31. “If the matter is not resolved immediately,the opening of the sea link will only be possible next year as the monsoon is approaching,followed by the code of conduct for the Assembly polls,” said an HCC official,requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile,the state government swung into action to resolve the issues that would severely impact the fate of the project. Chief Secretary Johny Joseph on Wednesday called a meeting of officials of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC),HCC and Dar Consultants to sort out the issue. “We had a meeting to discuss the issues. We’re making efforts to resolve the matter within the contractual limits. Hopefully,it will be resolved for the project to be commissioned in time,” government officials told Newsline.