Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jul 22: General manager of Ircon International Ltd, V G Suresh Kumar, dwelt in detail about various problems his company had to face while executing the highway widening work contracted to it between Suratkal and Bantwal. He spoke at length, about the challenges the company faced in executing the widening work of national highway 17, at a programme organized by the city chapter of the Institute of Engineers and the city branch of the Institute of Valuers at Hotel Woodlands in the city on Tuesday July 21.
The company entered into an agreement for the execution of highway development work for a stretch of 37.47 kms, on May 31, 2005. Work was started on June 16 and the company has got the time extended up to December 2009 for the execution of the works, he explained.
"The specific area where the company faced lot of hardships was the non-involvement of the locals. As the local people never approached the work sites or took interest in it, the personnel had to get every information or assistance from outsiders. Nowhere else, both in India and abroad, we faced utter disregard to the works by the local people. The other major issue was shifting of the essential services like electricity, water supply etc. More than road works, we had to turn our attention to shifting of water supply pipes, electric cables, telephones cables etc. Mescom refused to shift the power cables even though the Highway Authority was prepared to foot the cost, saying that they do not have the resources needed for the same. Even the roadside trees had to be cut down by Ircon," he explained.
"The highway stretch had not been repaired for five years and we had to repair the potholes and heavily damaged portions on our own. Because of the land acquisition-related problems, works have been held up at different stretches. Because of this problem, Nantoor fly over works have been suspended. Some clauses in the agreement barred us from utilizing some available resources from here. Human resources shortage aggravated the problem. Because of the issues concerned with the soil quality, we had to make changes in the plans and Kuloor over bridge is held up because of this particular issue," he explained.
Institute of Engineers local chapter president J Mascarenhas, honorary secretary Umesh Bhat, Institute of Valuers local branch president T Ramachandra Bhat and honorary secretary Cristopher M P were present.