Earthquake Damaged roads to be repaired on War footing by next Monsoon instructs CM

FUNDS READY FOR R&B DEPTT TO UNDERTAKE ROAD REPAIRS
GANGTOK, 16 Feb: The state Roads & Bridges department is finally all set to repair the damaged road network in the state with the government finally ready to release funds to the department. In fact, and as per the instructions of the chief minister, the department is targeting late February or early March by when work should commence as the repair works of damaged roads have to be completed before the onset of the next monsoon rains. As Secretary, GS Sharma stated, this is also the direction of the chief minister that road repair works should be completed as soon as possible for the convenience of the public as well as the tourists. Once work commences, it will be undertaken on a war footing, as the R&B Secretary stated.
The department is expecting funds to the tune of Rs.150 crore to Rs.200 crore for taking up repair and reconstruction of damaged roads in the state. This amount is to be released promptly and it is informed by the Secretary, R&B that the Detailed Project Reports are also on the verge of completion and which will be submitted to the state government within the week. These DPRs, prepared for the amount released, will then be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India. There is also the direction of the CM that the DPRs be submitted immediately.
The R&B department had initially made a DPR of Rs.1700 crore for undertaking all repair and reconstruction of roads damaged by the earthquake of 18 September, 2012. However as the central government is releasing funds under different sources and schemes the funds are being released piecemeal and for which the department had to rework on its DPRs for re-submission. It was also informed that the centre has assured that there will be more funds coming in the next financial year for the undertaking of road repairs and for which the department would again have to prepare another set of DPRs.
Secretary, GS Sharma informed that the extent of repair works to be undertaken will be according to the funds that the department will receive. In this respect it was informed that only those portions of roads which have been damaged will be repaired. The number of roads to be repaired will also depend on the amount released. Some roads which have been totally damaged would have to be carpeted again totally that is, 100%; other roads will receive carpeting depending on the extent of damage, which may range from 30% to 40% or 50% of the road length depending on the damage extent.
The department is targeting getting the roads ready by May or first week of June and the government is also seized of the fact that for this to be possible work has to commence immediately. Following the normal process of issuing tender notices etc takes a minimum of 45 days which would delay the repair works to be undertaken. In such a scenario where there is the need of urgency, especially in view of public convenience, there is a possibility that the government may decide to do the work departmentally and which is also provided for in the SPWD Code under a special provision.