Majority Of Rural Infra Projects In Shambles

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is witnessing significant delays in developing rural infrastructure projects due to the negligence of top officials in the Rural Works Department and their alleged nexus with contractors. The prolonged delays in completing crucial projects, especially bridges and roads, obstruct the Odisha and Central Government’s mission to enhance connectivity in rural areas.

Findings from G Hub Initiative by NITI Aayog

The issue has been highlighted in the G Hub initiative of NITI Aayog, Government of India. Reports reveal that the majority of bridge projects worth crores under the Setu Bandhan Yojana (SBY) for the financial year 2023-24 remain incomplete, with their status marked as “work in progress” or “ongoing.” These details have been verified from information provided by the Additional Chief Engineer of the Rural Works Division to the Khordha district Collector.

Delayed Bridge Projects Under Setu Bandhan Yojana (SBY)

Several key bridge projects under SBY in Khordha district are far behind schedule. Some notable examples include:

• HL Bridge over River Dhanua (Bhainchua): Estimated cost of ₹2141.74 crore, tagged as “work in progress.”
• Bridge over River Prachi Nala (Charipada to Apuja via Kapileswar): Estimated cost of ₹971.43 crore, also marked as “work in progress.”
• Bridge over River Dhanua (Danapada): Project yet to be completed.
• Bridge over Malaguni River (Orabarsingh, Satyabadi Constituency): Estimated cost of ₹697.54 crore, currently under tender scrutiny.
• HL Bridge over Gangua River: Another significant project still marked as “work in progress.”

These delayed projects indicate major inefficiencies in planning, execution, and monitoring.

Road Construction Projects Also Facing Delays

Apart from bridges, major road improvement projects are also progressing at a sluggish pace. Some of the critical road projects tagged as “ongoing” include:

• Kaipadar to Madhapur via Santa Road – ₹472.10 crore
• Nandankanan to Raghunathpur Village Road – ₹550.20 crore
• Kuakhai Right Embankment to Barana Railway Station Road – ₹550.20 crore
• Kuakhai Right Embankment to BaliDada Village Road – ₹393 crore
• BelaDada to JjiariDut Road (Kunjuri GP) – ₹690.91 crore
• PWD Road to Chandanpur via Rameswar – ₹508.16 crore

The delay in these projects is hampering rural connectivity and affecting the daily lives of residents.

Key Reasons for Project Delays

Infrastructure experts point to multiple reasons for these setbacks:

1. Flawed DPR and Complex Project Designs

   • Many projects suffer due to improper Detailed Project Reports (DPR), prepared by consultants who overcomplicate execution plans.
   • Lack of clarity in DPR results in conflicts during implementation.

2. Unrealistic Tendering Process

   • During bid invitations, tenders are accepted at 14.99% less than the estimated cost, leading to financial constraints for contractors.
   • The executing agencies then slow down the work, causing disputes between the department and contractors.

3. Cost Escalation and Legal Disputes

   • Due to project delays, cost deviations occur, and expenses escalate.
   • Contractors, in some cases, approach the courts to claim dues along with interest, further burdening public funds.

4. Lack of Proper Monitoring by Officials

   • The Chief Engineer and senior officials of the Rural Works Department rarely conduct field visits to oversee projects.
   • Instead, they limit themselves to review meetings at the headquarters, failing to ensure timely execution.

Public Funds Not Being Utilized Effectively

Despite massive budget allocations for rural infrastructure, the benefits are not reaching the people due to these inefficiencies. With officials allegedly working in collaboration with contractors, projects are either delayed or completed with substandard quality. Experts emphasize that urgent reforms are needed to ensure proper utilization of funds and timely completion of critical rural infrastructure projects in Odisha.