NAGPUR: Five
toll booths of
Integrated Roads Development Project (IRDP) situated on city’s entry points will continue for 13 more years. The state government had taken a policy decision to close down some tolls a year ago but not included them in the list. Meanwhile, another
IRDP controversy related to
Craddock Road has come to fore and going on since seven years.
The state government had launched IRDP in 2001 to widen and beautify 58 city roads covering about 200km along.
It also included construction of railway overbridges (ROBs) and railway underbridges (RUBs) at nine locations. One of them was Craddock Road between Golibar square and Marwadi square at Itwari in Central Nagpur. IRDP nodal agency Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) completed several works till 2003 but left out a few including widening of Craddock road.
Following strong local demand,
NMC pressed for Craddock Road widening with MSRDC and latter agreed to do it in 2007. Accordingly, MSRDC appointed private contractor Phoenix Engineering to execute the work. MSRDC was to pay for the work from IRDP funds. As per work order issued in June 2007, the work was to be completed in six months but got delayed. NMC then asked for extension upto June 2008 and was accepted by MSRDC. The work could not be completed even in extended time. NMC then asked for a revision for second time up to December 2009 and it was accepted by the MSRDC.
However, MSRDC did not agree to bear escalation of the cost. The work was finally completed in December 2009 but at Rs 63.01 lakh more than estimated cost. NMC and MSRDC were at loggerheads about who should bear it. The dispute went on for six years. The contractor approached the High Court following which NMC decided to bear the cost. “NMC will deposit escalation cost with MSRDC for paying to the contractor. We will adjust the amount in our share in IRDP,” an NMC official said.
NMC standing committee will decided on the issue on November 30.
“NMC will have to pay to MSRDC for Craddock Road work as directives came from HC. MSRDC has recovered more than its investment under IRDP. NMC ensured stoppage of recovery by levying additional cess on petrol and diesel. MSRDC has continued with five levying toll at five places. Government should close down the tolls. NMC has asked the government to direct MSRDC to return extra recovery,” said an NMC office bearer.
Ruling party leader Dayashankar Tiwari said government should verify and close down IRDP toll. “Government should bear the amount if any due for recovery by the MSRDC. It is 11 years now and it should not stretch,” he said. MSRDC official said closure of tolls was not possible as NMC and other government agencies had not given their due share towards IRDP.