Blacklist contractor of Indrali RoB project, Udupi DC tells PWD

Blacklist contractor of Indrali RoB project, Udupi DC tells PWD

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, January 7, 2025: Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari on Monday directed the National Highways division of the Public Works Department to blacklist the contractor working on the Indrali road overbridge (RoB) in Udupi for the inordinate delay in completing the project.

She was chairing a meeting to review the progress of the Indrali RoB over the Mangaluru-Mumbai line of Konkan Railway Corporation on Malpe-Tirthahalli National Highway 169A between Udupi and Manipal at Rajatadri, district office complex in Manipal. A steel bridge was planned at the place as per a suggestion of KRCL and the work commenced in 2018.

Even after five years, the contractor failed to complete the project, she lamented, and pointed out that the general public as well as road users have suffered much because of the delay. With the district administration being at the receiving end of public wrath, Ms. Vidyakumari asked the division to write to the authorities concerned to blacklist the contractor.

She noted that in the previous meeting, the contractor was directed to deploy workers in two shifts and hasten the project. Despite her direction, the contractor has deployed a handful of workers thereby contributing to the delay. Such an attitude would not be tolerated, Ms. Vidyakumari said, and asked the department to complete the work on priority. More workers should be deployed to complete the welding of steel girders and adequate steps should be taken to place the girders over the railway line.

Superintendent of Police K. Arun said the delay was contributing to a number of road accidents at the site. Appropriate criminal cases would be booked against the contractor and the engineers concerned if any more accidents occur in the location, he warned.