AGARTALA, Feb 14 (TIWN): Tripura Border road projects have remained unsatisfactory due to the local contractors engaged in those works. Reportedly at Maheshpur (North Tripura) the border road construction and maintenance work has begun after much waiting, but the work remained fully unsatisfactory and alleged of much embezzlement with Central funds. Border road repair and maintenance is responsibility of CPWD which executes the works through the authorized contractor. As per the prescribed norms the re-carpeting is done with 20 mm thickness, but the work being executed in area of Maheshpur is substandard and the thickness of re-carpeting is not of required thickness of 20 mm. The local people as well as BSF have observed the situation, but there is no sign of improvement. When the JE of CPWD was contacted by our reporter, he showed complete ignorance about it as he has not visited the site of work. The work is so substandard that it would not sustain even one rainy season.

This will not only affect the border population but also the border patrolling by the troops of BSF. 

It is reported that the work is transferred to many sub contractors and actual contractor is not known. Even CPWD does not know who is executing the work as it is further sub contracted to local contractor who is not even authorized in list of CPWD.

CPWD’s budget includes the budgets of various other Ministries and the success of utilizing fully the available funds depends upon the close interaction that takes place between the various Ministries, Ministry of UD and CPWD.  The detailed procedure for inclusion of New Works of other Ministries in CPWD budget is given in page 483 of CPWD Manual Vol.-II. 

The budget allocation for various heads of accounts are received by DG (W) and it is distributed to various ADGs in the regions.  ADG’s in turn distribute the allocation to Chief Engineers in their region.  Chief Engineer then distributes it to the Superintending Engineers and Superintending Engineer (E) in the Zone. 

Superintending Engineers and SE (E) in turn distribute them to the Executive Engineers in their Circles.

However, not only this road but Tripura’s roadways undertaken by PWD are also left in same condition. Keeping no separate fund for Northeast, the Centre has hiked more Rs. 7,000 crores for Highway development. With the aim of treating every states equally in every facilities, the Central Govt has gifted Tripura with BG, 4 express train and already various ongoing projects as Indo-Bangla railway, Feni Bridge, double lane road ongoing in the state. However after Modi Govt came in power many projects had kicked off here, but under state PWD’s observation the work completion rates are not at all satisfactory. The double lane project from Agartala to Sabroom is left with only 6 months time to cross the deadline but till now 30 % of the work has not been done. Apart from that Tripura to get more 2 highways in coming days.

Thus in total the condition of the roads across Tripura are in very miserable shape.