Golden Quadrilateral project to be delayed

Kolkata: The Centre’s Golden Quadrilateral project involving four laning of the National Highway (NH)-5 is likely to be delayed further in view of a recent mishap which occurred at a bridge over river Rushikulya on the 52-km Ganjam-Ichhapur stretch of the project.

The Golden Quadrilateral project will take another two years to complete in Orissa, said Satish Kumar, chief general manager, NHAI. Kumar who is in charge of Orissa and West Bengal, was here to conduct an on-the spot assessment of the mishap.

Kumar said that he would recommend an independent inquiry of the mishap by a committee of experts.

Out of the 390-km Balasore-Ichhapur stretch of NH 5, the 52-km Ganjam-Ichhapur and the 56-km Sunakhala-Ganjam stretch is yet to be completed. While the progress in work in the Rs 242.76 crore Ganjam-Ichhapur stretch has received set back due to frequent mishaps, the contractor is yet to be engaged to construct the Sunakhala-Ganjam stretch, involving an investment of Rs 176 crore.

The PCL-STICCO joint venture company that had been selected for the Sunakhala-Ganjam stretch was expelled by NHAI in April this year due to non performance. The NHAI had floated a fresh tender for the balance work. 'We will select the bidder after the technical bid', said Kumar.

The work on the Ganjam-Ichhapur stretch which was entrusted to the joint venture company, KMC-RK-SD. Though the work was scheduled to complete in November last it has been extended by another six months. “We think the authorities would give permission for the work in other parts except the bridge portion which has collapsed', said an official of the company.