Funds Shortage and Lack of Construction Material Hit Development Works; Contractors Demand Suspension of Tenders or Extension Till March 2027
Funds Shortage and Lack of Construction Material Hit Development Works; Contractors Demand Suspension of Tenders or Extension Till March 2027
Contractors announce halt in works and protest at Nirmaan Bhawan, citing non-availability of even a litre of bitumen
AIC Yogesh Mehra assures extension of timelines and budget escalation relief
Chandigarh 18 June ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : The All Haryana PWD Contractors Association held its General Body Meeting (GBM) at the Convention Hall of Nirmaan Sadan, where PWD contractors from across the state participated and discussed various departmental issues, pending demands, and practical challenges being faced in executing ongoing projects. Addressing the media after the meeting, Association Chairman Ashok Jain and Manoj Chahal said that a memorandum addressed to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was submitted to AIC Yogesh Mehra. They stated that due to inadequate availability of funds with the government, several development projects across the state have been adversely affected and the pace of ongoing works has slowed considerably.
The contractors urged the government to either suspend all existing tenders until the situation improves or extend the completion deadline for ongoing projects until March 31, 2027. According to them, completing projects within the stipulated time has become extremely difficult due to the prevailing financial constraints. Ashok Jain said that prices of construction materials, particularly petroleum products and bitumen, have witnessed a continuous increase in recent months, placing an additional financial burden on contractors. He added that carrying out development works at existing contract rates has become increasingly challenging.
The association leaders further stated that they had previously sought a relief package, revision of contract rates, and extension of timelines for ongoing projects. Contractors attending the meeting unanimously demanded that the government take an early and positive decision after considering the ground realities so that development works can continue uninterrupted and contractors receive necessary financial relief. Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, the contractors said that not even a single litre of bitumen is currently available for road works. Adopting a “do-or-die” approach, they announced suspension of work and declared that they would stage a sit-in protest by setting up camp at Nirmaan Bhawan if their concerns remain unaddressed.After receiving the memorandum, AIC Yogesh Mehra assured the contractors that, owing to the non-availability of bitumen, the completion deadline for existing tenders would be extended until September 30. He further assured them of all possible support from the department. Commenting on the budget shortage issue, Mehra said that relaxation for the next quarter would be provided and the government would also consider the possibility of allocating additional funds to facilitate the smooth execution of development projects.

Comments
Post a Comment