AGARTALA, Dec 6 (TIWN): Muti-crore scam by contractors and ruling party machineries in upgradation project of Bishalgarh- Boxanagar- Sonamura – Belonia Road was unearthed by CAG. Not only corrupt Govt officials allowed interest free mobilization advance of Rs. 10.73 crore to two contractors but closed their eyes on deviation of approved specification constructions of Bishalgarh- Boxanagar- Sonamura – Belonia Road. Inferior quality of materials in construction, delay by two contractors, non-return of cash advance caused over Rs. 40 crores loss to Government.The work was scheduled to be completed by December 2012. As of May 2013, only 15 per cent road was completed in all respects and none of the bridges were completed. Though the contractors failed to adhere to the time schedule, the Department did not penalise the contractors and take any concrete action to get the work done in time. Unholy nexus among contractors, officials, ruling party functionaries fueled this organized corruption on improvement/upgradation Project of Bishalgarh- Boxanagar- Sonamura – Belonia Road.

The project for improvement/widening of road for 87.50 Km including 7 RCC bridges on the road for Rs. 195 crore was approved by the GOI in June 2010 under NEC. Audit scrutiny revealed that the Department had already completed the tendering process between May and December 2008 and made agreements with two contractors (January 2009)- M/s Ramky Infrastructure Ltd and M/s Coal mines (I) Ltd – with stipulation to complete the work within 2 years (December 2012) from the date of approval of DPR (December 2010) by the Department. Thus, the Department had finalised and entered into agreement much before the approval of the GOI to the project. The work commenced in December 2010 and was in progress (September 2013).

1) Interest free mobilisation advance- Loss of Interest Rs. 1.82 crore, another loss of Rs. 5.43 crores for non-return

CAG Scrutiny of records revealed that interest free mobilisation advances amounting to

Rs. 10.73 crore (Ramky Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.:` 5.78 crore and Coal Mines Associated Traders: ` 4.95 crore) was paid to the two contractors during January - March 2011 of which ` 5.30 crore was only recovered till March 2013. Remaining Rs. 5.43 crores has no accounting and amount remains unrecovered.

Thus, the Department allowed interest free mobilisation advance to the contractors in violation of Manualised provision and caused a loss of interest of Rs. 1.82 crore till March 2013.

CAG report showing irregularities. TIWN Photo

Thus, due to short deduction of security deposit of Rs. 4.23 crore from the contractors, the Department had allowed undue advantage to the contractors as well as caused insecurity to the Government in case of detection of defects, if any, or breach of terms and conditions of the agreement by the contractor.

 2 ) Deviation from approved specification – Loss of Rs. 33  crores

The DPR submitted by the Department to the GOI had projected the road thickness of 375 mm (GSB: 150 mm, WBM Grade III: 100 mm, WBM Grade II: 75 mm and DBM: 50 mm). While conveying approval, NEC prescribed that DBM should not be laid directly on WBM. Instead, it should be laid on Wet Mix Macadam (WMM) in view of commercial and international importance of the road.

Scrutiny of records revealed that contrary to the directions of the GOI, the contractors constructed the road of 350 mm thickness (GSB: 125 mm, WBM: 75 mm, WMM: 100 mm and DBM: 50 mm) and the Department had allowed the use of WBM instead of WMM with reduced thickness indicating compromise with quality.  This deviation from prescribed quality made both the contractors richer alongwith ruling party’s leaders.

 3) Time overrun

The work was scheduled to be completed by December 2012. As of May 2013, only 15 per cent road was completed in all respects and none of the bridges were completed. Though the contractors failed to adhere to the time schedule, the Department did not penalise the contractors and take any concrete action to get the work done in time.

CAG report pinpointed the rampant corruption in upgradation /construction of Bishalgarh- Boxanagar- Sonamura – Belonia Road, however Govt of Tripura preferred to close eyes till date to cover up their corrupt contractors, party functionaries.