SHILLONG: In an effort to educate contractors in the State in the theory and technology of road construction, a workshop on ‘Capacity Building for Contractors’ was organised jointly by PWD (Roads) and the Meghalaya Infrastructure Development and Finance Cooperation Ltd. (MIDFC) along with Central Roads Research Institute (CRRI).
The two-day workshop was inaugurated at Shillong Club on Monday.
Chief Secretary P.B.O Warjri, while speaking at the inaugural function, asked the participants to take full advantage of quarrying information from the resource persons from CCRI.
He expressed his desire to see the resource persons teach the contractors on how to “execute work, to supervise efficiently, to budget accurately so as not to compromise on the quality of work or materials.”
Warjri also spoke on e-tendering, stating that is was an “efficient way of filling up tenders.” He opined that e-tendering was easier to access and fill while also providing a safer method for application as it would be free from sabotage and corruption.
M. Sunn, Secretary, PWD (Roads) also stated that “this was an occasion of significance” because “training of contractors is one of the critical areas that need to be addressed.”
“There is a need to have at least a basic understanding behind the theory of construction of roads. This is necessary for proper and logical planning,” he said.
Above all his underlying message was to save time and materials during construction by applying sound theory and science behind execution of public works.
K. Sitaramanjaneyulu from the CRRI was the next speaker. He was pleased with the fact that the Meghalaya Government was sensitive to the idea of purporting scientific technology and theory in the construction of roads in the state. He briefly described the nature of the workshop and how it would benefit not only the contractors but the PWD department as well.
He explained what each section of the workshop would entail ranging from the type of materials to be used in different climatic conditions, layers in road construction, quality control, road maintenance to state a few of the topic to be discussed over the two day workshop.
Sunn stated that “the construction industry is an important and necessary contributor to the growth of any economy. In Meghalaya, roads form a core sector of development upon which all other sectors are dependent.”
He also commented that “Meghalaya get a large share of Centrally-sponsored schemes for road construction and infrastructure development such as SPSCA, PMJSY and many others. Therefore, local contractors are key players in this respect. They indirectly have an impact on the State economy through their work in road construction.”
It becomes vital that they are well aware of the science and method behind road construction.
Sunn pinpointed few areas where local contractors needed clarity and guidance such as management of projects, quality of work and services, insurance coverage on men and machinery, lack of technical manpower and cash flow and credit.
P. Jain from the MIDFC informed that MIDFC was a facilitating agency and not an implementing agency. “The express purpose of MIDFC is to take up matters relating to pre and post implementation of a project” such as preparing concept notes; provide capacity building, insurance, monitoring and evaluation, etc., and MIDFC functions as a support agency,” he added.
After the inauguration, the participants were engaged in an open forum with the resource persons.