Delay in construction of bridge across Vynatheya : Sarve threatens to blacklist Gammon

Amalapuram: "The government will not hesitate to place Gammon India Private Limited, which is undertaking construction of bridge across Vynatheya � a tributary of River Godavari between Bodasakurru and Pasarlapudi � in blacklist if the bridge is not completed in three months' time," Minister of State for Road Transport and National Highways Sarve Satyanarayana warned here on Tuesday. Along with Amalapuram MP GV Harsha Kumar, the minister inspected the works on the bridge at Bodasakurru in East Godavari district. He took the contract company to task for not completing the bridge even after 76 months. "It should have been competed in 36 months according to agreement. Gammon India should have been placed in the blacklist much before due to the delay in constructing the bridge," he said. Vice-president of Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi would be invited to inaugurate the bridge, he added. He was speaking at a meeting in Pasarlapudi village and also conducted a review meeting with the officials of Gammon India and Surface Transport Department. The villagers told the minister that they were facing many problems due to the delay in construction of the bridge. Gammon India representatives told the minister that construction cost had increased manifold for this bridge, which was taken up with Rs 56 crore, due to technical problem in construction of 'P-4' and due to non-availability of sand because of High Court orders. They said Gammon India had incurred loss to the tune of Rs 15 crore and made it clear that they would complete the bridge within time if they were given the Rs 15 crore. However, Mr Sarve Satyannarayana and Mr Harsha Kumar rejected their claim. The Union minister made it clear that the delay was only due to the negligence of the contract company. Engineer-in-Chief Siva Reddy informed the minister that bills for the construction of bridge to the tune of Rs 46 crore have already been paid and the minister directed the contract company to complete the remaining 18 per cent work by the end of September. Mr Harsha Kumar urged the Union minister to take steps to sanction funds to construct a bridge across the Godavari between Narasapuram and Sakhinetipalli. He informed the minister that construction cost of the bridge would be around Rs 75 crore and it would be completed if the State government contributed Rs 25 crore, Oil companies Rs 25 crore and the Central government Rs 25 crore. He opined that transportation facilities to and from Konaseema would improve if the bridge was constructed. The Amalapuram MP also urged the minister to take the initiative in connection with Konaseema railway project.