PWD introduces maintenance clause for contractors

Along the lines of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), West Bengal Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to include a maintenance clause in future contracts making it mandatory for contractors to maintain the construction for a period of three years.

“There has been a number of complaints about poor construction and lack of maintenance of roads and bridges. The new clause, which has been formulated along the lines of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will address the issue,” said a PWD official.A notice has already been issued by the state PWD department, to include the maintenance clause in the tender form.

 

However, apart from roads and bridges, the new tender form will also be applicable for construction of plumbing, sanitary and electrical work, as well.

There will also be a provision for penalty, which means, if the builders fail to carry out the maintenance work in the three years, the cost would be deducted from the security deposit.

However, the penalty will be fully refunded only after the end of the stipulated maintenance period.

Also, taking it forward, according to the new norms, the contractor will have to bear the expenses of any damages during execution or within a period of three years' of maintenance. But, in cases of defaults, other players may be engaged to restore the damages, while deduction of the expense will be incurred from the security deposit which was deposited by the original contractor.