Himachal govt to form squads to ensure quality infra projects

The Himachal government would ensure quality in construction of roads, bridges and government buildings by ensuring a third party inspection by an independent quality check squad, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said today.

The announcement was made by Thakur after presiding over the meeting on the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and its impact on the contracts of the Public Works Department (PWD).

He said that the state government would take serious note of any delay in completion of projects or a compromise in quality. The government would not hesitate in taking action against erring contractors or executing agencies, he added.

Thakur said that a scheme to provide incentives to the executing agencies completing the projects ahead of the stipulated time period was being deliberated upon.

It would not only bring competitiveness among the contractors but also help in checking cost escalation, he added.

Thakur said that automation of PWD would be taken in a big way so that maximum use of information technology could be ensured for monitoring progress in ongoing projects.

The government was sympathetic towards various issues of the contractors in post GST era, the CM said, adding that a committee would be constituted to look into the matter and submit its report at the earliest.

Thakur directed the officers to identify spots where frequent landslides take place especially in rainy season and deploy adequate men and machinery to ensure that commuters don't face any inconvenience.