MARGAO: Irked over the delay in completing the Western Bypass stretch in Salcete, the Bombay High Court (HC) at Goa has asked the State government and the contractor to provide fresh affidavits regarding the deadline for finishing the project.
While scrutinising the progress of the last stretch of the Western Bypass in the taluka, the HC directed both the contractor and the government to explain the delay. The government stated that the remaining 2.75 km would be completed by May, while the contractor suggested a completion date of September, prompting the court to request fresh affidavits detailing the current status and reasons for the prolonged timeline.
The Court criticised the contractor’s apparent focus on arbitration and seeking higher compensation rather than prioritising timely project completion.
Highlighting the recurring delays, the Court noted the contractor’s earlier assurance of completing the works by December 31, 2023, now extending to September 30, 2024, with concerns of further delays evident in the contractor’s recent application.
The HC, which has been monitoring the project’s advancement in connection with a suo motu petition since 2015 accepted the State government’s submission that a status report on the work will be filed soon.
