PANJIM: Public Works Department (PWD) on Monday denied that a plan was afoot to allot annual maintenance contract to private contractors for year-round maintenance of state highways and the national highways.
Speaking to O Heraldo, a senior PWD official said, “In case of national highways, the contractor, who constructs roads, maintains them for the next four years in case of national highways. In case of PWD roads, the liability to repair roads is three years.”
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“Once contract is allotted to a contractor, he has to ensure maintenance work of the road till the liability period expires. Once the liability period is over, fresh estimates are prepared and tender issued,” he said.
The official said the PWD has moved proposals for annual maintenance work like erecting speed breakers, signages, crash barriers etc. “Once the liability period is over and roads are in bad condition, fresh estimates are prepared,” the official said.
He said earlier PWD had purchased jetpatchers but as they were not successful, the department discarded the idea of having it and made it part of contract for road construction and maintenance.
“We had purchased jetpatchers in the past but they were not successful. Jetpatchers too have a liability period of 18 months. It is the responsibility of contractors to have it. It is part of the contract,” he said.
