SHILLONG: Meghalaya Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Monday highlighted in state Assembly on the hurdles that were slowing down the Inter-state Bus Terminus Project at Mawiongrim
The Minister was replying to a call attention notice by Congress MLA, PT Sawkmie on the second day of the Autumn Session.
Speaking of the issues faced by the Transport Department while implementing the project, he said that in the initial stages the work was suspended for some time due to the issue of migrant labourers.
On the financial front, there were issues with the fund flow when the requirement of funds as per the approved work programme and cash flow of the contractor could not be fulfilled by the implementing agency due to the delay in release of funds by North Eastern Council (NEC).
“This delay had arisen due to the fact that the detailed structural drawing of some of the building components had not been provided by the consultant on time,” Dhar said.
Moreover, he pointed to some ambiguity in the architectural drawings of the terminal building for which the consultant had to be called time and again to indicate the provisions kept in the design.
“The issue of the availability of land in the approach to ISBT premises also hampered the progress of work since the available land width at present is only 12 meters, whereas the proposed width required at the entrance to ISBT as per design is 45 meters,” he said.
The Minister added that the department is taking proactive steps to get the additional land required.
With the hindrances in the path of the completion of the project, the contractor has requested for extension of time till March 2019.
Dhar said that the extension has been granted and informed that the implementing agency shall make all effort to ensure that this project was completed on time.
Speaking about the project, he said that the Inter-State Bus Terminus at Mawlai Mawiong was an important infrastructure much needed for the city of Shillong designed to cater to the need of passengers coming from other parts of North Eastern Region and passing through the city of Shillong.
The project was approved by the Ministry of DoNER at an estimated cost of Rs 48.31 crore in the year 2013 and the area of land was about 53041.74 square meters. The deadline given for completion of the project by the NEC was October, 2017.
“However, the actual work commenced as per records from Chief Engineer (NH) Public Works Department (Roads) only on September 4, 2014 which was due to the fact that DPR was not made available to the implementing agency in time and therefore floating of NIT was delayed,” Dhar said.
He said the amount was sanctioned by the NEC and the 10 per cent state share was sanction by the government for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th installment so far and the 5th installment released by the NEC which was awaiting sanction from the state government for both NEC share and state share.
The amount yet to be sanctioned is Rs 7, 77, 77, 777 inclusive of both NEC and state share.
The amount of Rs 23, 27, 99, 111 sanctioned upto 4th installment has already been utilised by the PWD (Roads), Shillong. The physical progress of the work in terms of percentage is 62 per cent.