The New Indian Express 01.02.2010
No end to roadblocks
KOCHI: Kochi Corporation’s plan to re-tender the construction work of the new office building on Marine Drive has hit a roadblock.
The Local Self Government Department (LSGD) chief engineer has informed the government that not only the contractor but the civic body is also responsible for the delay. The LSGD principal secretary has asked the Corporation officials to re-examine the decision to re-tender the contract for the remaining work of the building on a risk and cost basis. In the risk and work contract, completion of the work within the stipulated time will be of utmost importance.
If the contractor fails to complete the work as per schedule, the remaining work can be allotted to another contractor after serving notice to the first contractor. Since the Corporation failed to act on a timebound manner, the government has asked the Civic Body to reconsider the request of the current contractor to exempt him from the risk and cost.
It was in 2005 that the Corporation council approved the plan to construct a new office building near Goshree bridges, Marine Drive. The contract was awarded at a cost of Rs 12.70 crore. Then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy laid the foundation stone on August, 2005, but there has been no progress after the construction of the first floor.
The contractor said that the cost of construction materials had skyrocketed and it had become difficult for him to carry on with the work at the estimated cost of Rs 12.70 crore.
Deputy Mayor C K Manisankar said that the civic body would consider the request by the current contractor to exempt him from the risk and cost. “But so far the risk amount has not been submitted to us officially,” he said. Manisankar also made it clear that the Corporation has already paid Rs 12 crore to the contractor. “The amount was raised as loan from HUDCO. As the clause in the contract reveals, we are not responsible for the losses incurred by the contractor,” he said. Manisankar alleged that it was the contractor’s failure that had resulted in the untimely delay of the project.
The Civic Body will hold talks with the LSGD in this regard. “We are hopeful of retendering the construction work as early as possible,” Manisankar said.
