For many weeks disturbing news was trickling down about the suspension of work on Chenani-Nashri tunnel because of disagreement and dispute between M/s Leighton Contractor (India) Pvt. Ltd. and the Project Developer M/s IL&FS Transportation Network Limited which has allotted the job to Beig Constructions for completion of pending excavation work on the main tunnel. In these columns we had warned the State authorities that everything was not right with the work on the tunnel under discussion and that the Government should intervene without delay of time. The State Government is committed to the four-lanning of the National Highway-A1 and construction of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel is part of the four-lanning project. Why did the Government sleep over the matter and thus let so many months get wasted is not understandable. According to M/S Lighton payment of wages and dues is pending since a long time and it is not possible for the company to continue with the excavation work unless the backlog of payments is cleared. On the other hand, M/s IL&FS Transportation Network Limited claim that fictitious and exaggerated bills have been submitted which have created many doubts and as such payment is withheld.
It is difficult to understand whether or not the Government has verified the antecedents of these contracting companies when the work was allotted to them and also it was made time bound. How come that a company cleared by the Government should be accused of fabricating vouchers and bills and thus creating a situation in which work on such an important and prestigious project has had to be suspended. We have apprehensions that the matter is much more serious than what appears on the surface of it. One cannot say who are involved in the affair and how much is know and unknown to the general public. The Government is a stake holder because it has to deliver within specific time. Why should such a prestigious project been left to the care of irresponsible agencies and contractors? Irresponsible contracting companies should not be allowed to make a joke of an assignment and those found guilty of breaking the commitments must be dealt with severely.
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