One more bridge must at Sathy road

The narrow bridge on Sathyamangalam Road that not only poses risk but also causes traffic jam awaits sanction and tender process to be completed so that reconstruction work could begin.The Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC) has drawn the attention of the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu, towards the inordinate delay in the construction of a bridge on Sathyamangalam Road.

Though reconstruction of two two-lane minor bridges on National Highway No. 209 from Dindigul to Mysore via Coimbatore and Sathyamangalam has been okayed, work on a low-lying narrow bridge that badly needs to be reconstructed besides widening it enough to accommodate the increasing vehicular traffic on this stretch is yet to be taken up.At present, the low lying narrow bridge was not only causing traffic jam during peak hours but has been proving to be an accident-prone stretch.This had resulted in the bridge turning out to be unsafe for pedestrians also. The need for widening and reconstructing the bridge had been religiously discussed in the District Road Safety-cum-Traffic Advisory Committee meeting. But unfortunately the work had not even commenced even after years.

The secretary of CCC, K. Kathirmathiyon, said that “we understand the bridge work at an outlay of Rs. 1.17 crore was approved by the Ministry on December 14, 2004 in the annual plan for 2004-05.Though the tender proposal was submitted on time, due to belated approval on May 23, 2005 by the Commissionerate of Tender, the work could not be awarded since it had exceeded the stipulated validity period of five months i.e. May 13, 2005. Hence, extension of time was sought but there was no response from the Government.Hence, revised estimate was submitted for Rs. 1.23 crore in September 2005 (2005-06), which was not sanctioned by the Ministry. As per the Ministry’s guidelines, since the work was not awarded within 12 months of date of according of sanction, the work stood as de-sanctioned automatically.

Hence, the proposal required a fresh sanction once again. Hence in the annual plan for 2006-07, the proposal was again submitted with a revised estimate of Rs. 1.45 crore which was sanctioned by the Ministry on February 15, 2007.But when the tender was called for on April 26, 2007, the contractor quoted 28 per cent above the estimate cost. The Ministry’s guidelines clearly indicate that the rates quoted should not exceed 5 per cent of the sanctioned cost.Under such circumstances, revised sanction had to be obtained from the Ministry. Another proposal with revised estimate was submitted to the Ministry for approval, which was pending approval. Now a new proposal has been submitted for Rs. 1.52 crore last month.The bridge work right in the heart of the city needs to be taken up at the earliest, Mr. Kathirmathiyon said and sought the personal attention of the Minister to the issue.

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