Punjab introduces contract system for road maintainence

Chandigarh, Aug 26 (UNI) The road commuters in Punjab are all set for a smooth ride on 7200 kms district road network as the government today decided to implement 'Long Term Maintenance Contract' system.

Disclosing here today PWD (B&R) Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that all major and minor roads or highways linking various districts would be covered under this new system of maintenance in a phased manner. The Minister said that it has been decided to cover 1200 kms network every year over a period of six years.

The Minister said that the government has taken a serious view of degradation of the road network due to non-maintenance or late maintenance.

Giving details of the new initiative, the Minister said that in all future contracts to be awarded for the upgradation, rehabilitation, strengthening and surfacing of any road in the state, a Long Term Maintenance Contract for six years would be signed by the party awarded the contract. He said that continued maintenance would ensure timely repair at the earliest.

Mr Dhindsa said that the contractor would be required to maintain the road network for six years with special attention to road berms. He said that a detailed periodic routine maintenance schedule would be in force for each road.

The contractor would be responsible for repairing the roads that are damaged due to floods and other unforeseen natural disasters. The Minister said that it has been decided that employees of contractors would be posted on strategic roads at various points and they would attend to accident victims--- they would inform the police and also transport the injured to the nearest hospital.

The contractor would be also responsible for road clearance and would also lift dead animals. Upkeep of road signs road markings and road reflectors would be part of this contract.

The Minister said that the output based contract mechanism would be enforced and there would be a penalty clause for non performance to requisite levels.

He said that funds for upgradation, strengthening, rehabilitation and renewal coat would be met from the budgetary allocation of PWD and also from various scheme of NABARD and Central Roads Fund.

UNI