National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) on Monday assured the Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench that the two-lane Package-III road work, presently under maintenance, shall be fully completed before March, 2023 as per the project specifications.
As per the order of the two-judge bench of justice LS Jamir and justice Songkhupchung Serto, NHIDCL general manager, who was present at the court, submitted that if the three proposals of M/S RAMKY-ECI (JV) was not acceptable to NHIDCL, they will take further steps to bring out a better option for the completion of Package-III.
On December 18, M/S RAMKY-ECI (JV), through a letter, gave three proposals along with project cost estimate. In this regard, NHIDCL authorities had prayed for some time to look into the proposal and to further deliberate with M/S RAMKY-ECI (JV), and thereafter take a decision at the highest level whether the proposal would be acceptable.
In this regard, the court gave both the parties time to have a deliberation and come to a final decision on or before January 15, 2023. Thereafter, the court said that the NHIDCL authorities shall file an affidavit with regard to the outcome of the deliberation.
In case the proposal was not acceptable to NHIDCL authorities, the court said that they shall also bring out the alternative proposal for completion of Package-III and asked to file an affidavit on or before January 17, 2023 and listed the matter for January 19.
Meanwhile, the court, after disposing off the I.A.(Civil) No. 178/2022 on December 14, directed M/S RAMKY-ECI (JV) to raise the bills and have a joint verification with the NHIDCL authorities. Thereafter, the court said that the agreed amount of pending bills shall be released on or before December 21, 2022.
The court also made it clear that the while releasing the agreed amount, no penalty amount should be deducted from the said bills. However, it said that such penalty amounts can be deducted in the final bill.
Therefore, taking into account the concession made, the court directed M/S RAMKY-ECI (JV) to ensure that Package-I and II were completed on or before January 15, 2023.
Further, Oasis Techno Construction Ltd. had also filed an additional affidavit on Monday. In this regard, the court said that the I.A. filed by Oasis Techno Construction Ltd. I.A. (Civil)/203/2022 shall be heard finally on the next returnable date.
The court in its order also stated that it was satisfied with the affidavit filed by NHIDCL on December 14 indicating the steps taken by NHIDCL authorities on receipt of the amount of Rs. 11.12 crores.
