VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Nov.30: The contract of an agency named Simplex Infrastructure Limited, which was constructing the Karma medical college in Koderma, has been terminated due to slow work which has resulted in the failure to meet the deadline which was January this year only.
Prime minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this ambitious project on Sept 23, 2018. A total of Rs 319 crore was sanctioned to construct the college on 30 acres out of 69.84 acres of land in the first phase.
With Simplex Infrastructure Limited failing to take up the construction work at full pace, it triggered anger among the local residents as well as politicians. The company was given reminders to speed up the work several times but in vain.
The state headquarters, unhappy with the company’s performance, asked the executive engineer of the district building construction department Amit Kumar to take suitable action in this regard. Amit Kumar on Tuesday terminated the company’s contract asking them to remain present on Dec 2 for the final measurement of the work done so far.
Sources said this has now left them with no other option but to make a revised DPR of this project which will escalate the cost by around Rs 100 crores. The company has so far received payment of Rs 25 crore for only 15% work done. It completely stopped work on Oct 18 this year and its workers also left the site.
On Nov 25, state health minister Banna Gupta also visited this medical college site and expressed his unhappiness over the slow pace of work as well as the substandard work. He directed Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan to submit a report in this regard within 15 days.
An officer of the building construction department said this project got delayed due to the company. “Now, a new company with new DPR and increased funds will get this contract to construct the 500-bed hospital and college here,” he added.
