Baalu reviews performance of Andaman, Lakshadweep harbour works

New Delhi, Jun 18 (UNI) Shipping Minister T R Baalu today said an action plan would be put in place to ensure completion of all the pending works and projects at the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works (ALHW) within a year.

Mr Baalu, who was reviewing the performance of ALHW at a high-level meeting here, expressed concern over the delay in the execution of projects and directed the officials to hammer out the action plan at the earliest.

The projects under implementation at ALHW include the development of harbours, construction of deep water wharf and provision of embarkation facilities at Minicoy, Amini, Agathi and Kavaratti.

Taking note of the poor response to the tenders floated by ALHW due to shortage of contractors, it was decided at the meeting that the works and projects would be split into small packages to ensure their timely completion.

The projects for providing eastern side embarkation facilities at Minicoy (project cost Rs 19.86 crore) and Amini (Rs 21.51 crore) are likely to be completed by the year-end whereas similar facilities at Agathi and Kavaratti are targeted to be completed by March next year at a cost of about Rs 20 crore for each location.

Mr Baalu also directed the committee, headed by the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to expeditiously review and revise the rate schedule for the contractors to ensure that the rates offered are realistic and acceptable to the parties accepting the contracts.

It was pointed out at the meeting that the construction of deep water wharf at Cambell Bay is nearing completion and it should become operational by the end of this month. The project cost has been pegged at Rs 16.64 crore.

The Rs 17.44 crore project of development of Junglighat Harbour (Phase-I) at Port Blair is also likely to be completed by August-end.

Today's meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and senior officials of the Shipping Ministry.

UNI SKS HS BD1640