SNT paid private construction company before completion of work, alleges Sikkim RTI Forum

GANGTOK, 02 May: The Sikkim RTI Forum has alleged that Sikkim National Transport [SNT] made full payment to Avery India Pvt Ltd for the construction of Electronic Weight Bridge at Rangpo Mining, East Sikkim and Melli Check Post, South Sikkim despite the work being incomplete.
A press release issued by the Forum’s general secretary, DK Chhetri states that according to information obtained through RTI, the work was awarded to Avery India by SNT at the cost of Rs 60 lakh and the payment has already been made. The said work was to be completed by April 2011 but is yet to be completed, the release alleges.
In an FIR lodged at Rangpo Police Station, the Forum has alleged that SNT officials responsible for the said work “favoured Avery India in bill payment violating the agreement of the said construction work”.
The release further claims that at Rangpo a sign board says that the Weight Bridge Construction work is an outcome of the Chief Minister's 100-day tour when actually the agreement with Avery India was signed in February 2011 by the Transport Department.