Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MM/SP)
Mangalore, Oct 28: Recently, the state High Court has ordered the state government to conduct a detailed probe into the execution of the contract given for the repair and re-laying of the Shiradi Ghat stretch of the national highway 48 with assistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation and other experts, acting on a complaint made by a couple of lawyers, who had drawn the attention of the High Court to the fact that the road, which should have lasted for several years, crumbled within a few days of its opening. Now the national highway department of Mangalore division has issued notices to the contractors who carried out the repair and reconstruction work of the road at Shiradi Ghat.
Through the said notice, the highway department has asked the contractors to thoroughly repair the damaged parts of the highway immediately. It has warned them of legal action, if they fail to execute repair works as directed, immediately. The authorities have also said, that the contractors will also be blacklisted, in addition to initiating legal action against them, if they do not repair the highway stretch forthwith.
But, it may be noted that the highway authorities have been unable to provide a clear-cut reply as to why the highway suffered extensive damages so fast. The officials claim, that the gradation test is needed to be conducted on the road to find out the exact reason for the damage suffered by the highway.
The entire work entrusted to the contractors, has not yet been executed by them at the Shiradi Ghat section of the highway. In addition to repairing the bends on the Ghat roads, the contractors will have to maintain the highway for a year, after finishing the work. Accordingly, notices have been served to the five contractors who were assigned with the task.