After missing deadlines, HUDA now hopes to complete Mansa Devi temple gate by March

“Initially, the design of the gate had not been finalised. The construction was then delayed due to a mishap where one labourer died after an arch collapsed. Then the contractor, who had been assigned the task, ran away and we had to bring him back as reinviting is a time consuming process,” said R K Kataria, member secretary, Mansa Devi Shrine Board and Panchkula deputy commissioner.

The proposal to build an entrance gate was mooted in a meeting of the Mandir Board on August 30, 2006. A token budget of Rs 25 lakh was also made available and the foundation stone was laid in 2007. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had also submitted an estimate of the construction at Rs 53.70 lakh, which was then approved by the chairman in February, 2007.

The foundation stone was, however, laid before the estimate and the proposal had been passed.

Tenders were subsequently invited in February 2007 and the tender was awarded to M/S Shakti Construction in March 2007. The company was told to complete the project within four months.

In a meeting held in January 2008, it was said that the work on the project had been started, the main concrete pillars had been raised and the work on arches had also begun.

A proposal for the ex post facto approval of Rs 53,70,000 was also submitted in the same meeting.

The meeting also accepted the proposal to the cladding of stones. This was said to cost Rs 38 lakh, thereby taking the total expenditure to Rs 91 lakh.

Timeline

August 30, 2006: Proposal for the completion of the ceremonial gate within six months placed in the Mansa Mandir Board meeting

January 4, 2007: Foundation stone laid

March 31, 2007: Tenders for construction of the gate awarded

April 6, 2007: The construction company was given four months to complete the construction

January 20, 2008: In yet another meeting of the Mansa Devi, the estimated period within which the construction was to be completed was kept for six months