Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jan 24: During the DISHA meeting held at the Zilla Panchayath auditorium on January 24, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr K Vidya Kumari directed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure the completion of the Indrali railway bridge by February 10, setting it as the final deadline.

Expressing her frustration over the repeated delays, Dr Vidya Kumari said, “The deadline cannot be extended to the end of March. In last year’s meeting, you committed to completing the work by March 2024, and now you’re asking for March 2025. This cannot continue indefinitely. I will initiate the blacklisting of the civil contractor and the person in charge of the girders.”

Dr Vidya Kumari further criticised the contractor for outsourcing girder-related work to an unqualified party in an attempt to cut costs, leading to delays and financial disputes.

“It is their responsibility to ensure the proper progress of the project. I have also been instructing teams to work day and night to complete the work. Contractors have reportedly claimed that the railway department should handle the placement of the bridge, but railway officials clarified that the contractor must make private arrangements for this,” she said.

The National Highway Authority of India reported that the contractor has promised to complete the fabrication work by January 25, with welding to take 25 days. However, they stated the bridge is likely to be ready by the end of March. Due to the contractor being blacklisted, the launching of the bridge is now being handled by another agency.

Dr Vidya Kumari made it clear that the February 10 deadline must be met. “The project must be completed without any further extensions.”