Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar Sep 07 (KINS): With construction working season in progress in Kashmir, administration has directed the Roads and Buildings Department to ensure there is no compromise with the quality of material being used in macdamisation of roads.
People have been often complaining about usage of substandard material in construction of roads.
It has been that several roads that were macadamised for the past over a year have also started developing potholes which many claim due to usage of “sub-standard material”.
However, a senior official of the Roads and Buildings Department said there are strict orders from the administration to ensure there is no compromise with the quality of material being used in construction of roads.
“Government has directed to take strict action against any contractor if found involved in using poor quality material in construction of roads,” the official said.
The official said they are not allowing any usage of substandard material in construction of roads.
“The testing of material is done at three places. First at plant then at site after which samples are being sent to NIT. The payment is released only when it is found there is no usage of substandard material. If there are any complaints, then we take relevant action against that construction company,” the official told news agency KINS.
A contractor has to maintain the road for three years only then he can withdraw full payments for his works.
However officials said many roads develop potholes during winters due to harsh weather.
“We leave few roads un-macdamised where other departments have to do other works like draining or electrical. We macdamise those roads after they (other departments) complete their works,” another official said.
Sources said the government has directed to have regular audits of the roads for their proper and timely maintenance which include all works of routine maintenance/ repair, periodic maintenance, road rehabilitation including pavements, drainage, potholes repair and also maintenance of emergency nature.
The chief engineers have been told to prepare the report on the macadamization of the roads done in the past three years under all sectors along with road length achieved and road-wise status and the action taken by the executive engineers on Defect Liability Period. (KINS)
