Rejects Claims Made by Union Minister of State for Railways
Fact News Service, Chandigarh, March 2: Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO categorically rejected claims made by Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu that the Public Works Department of the Punjab Government is delaying the issuing of NOC for construction of the 4-Lane Railway Over Bridge (ROB) on Doraha-Sahnewal road at level crossing 164-A over Ambala-Ludhiana Railway line falling under Ambala Division of Northern Railway.
Setting the record straight, State PWD Minister said that the requisite NOC already stands issued on 11.11.2024, so the statement of Railway Minister regarding non-issuance of NOC by State Government is devoid of facts. Sh. Harbhajan Singh further informed that the said RoB formed part of agreement between Concessionaire M/s. Atlanta Tollways & Govt. of Punjab in 2011. Though all other project components were completed, the RoB could not be completed due to change in Railways’ development plans. This unforeseen change led to the concessionaire’s inability to complete the ROB, resulting in the contract’s termination on August 5, 2021
The concessionaire has since moved to arbitration, challenging the contract termination and citing the increase in the ROB span on account of Railways’ development plans as the primary reason for non-completion. Notably, the concessionaire had already executed certain works of the ROB as per the previously approved General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) and has raised a claim of ₹3.28 crores for the executed works. Due to non-completion of RoB component, the concessionaire has also raised claim of Rs. 35.51 Lakh deposited with Railway authorities as Plant & Equipment charges.
PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Railway Department has submitted a revised GAD for approval, and if approved as such, the works already executed at the site as per the previous GAD, also approved by Railways under 2011 Contract Agreement, would become a wasteful expenditure and State government will additionally be burdened with arbitration pay-outs. Accordingly, the NOC issued on 11.11.2024 has been issued safeguarding the Govt. interests.
Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO emphasized that as a Union State Minister, Ravneet Singh Bittu should be well aware that no government can accept work carried out as per earlier approved drawings being rendered wasteful. He said that attempts must be made to gainfully utilise the expenditure already incurred on the RoB. He remarked that Union State Minister should verify the facts before issuing statements just for its sake.
