SMC blacklists Ajay Protech for delay in Bhestan Siddharthnagar Bridge Project

Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to blacklist a contractor for five years after repeated delays in completing the overbridge near Bhestan Siddharthnagar. The bridge was planned to connect the Dindoli and Karadva areas with the Surat-Navasari road. Despite multiple deadline extensions, the contractor failed to complete the work on time.

The contract for the railway bridge near Bhestan Siddharthnagar was awarded to Ajay Protech Pvt. Ltd., based in Mehsana, at an estimated cost of ₹59.42 crore. The work order was issued on March 7, 2019. However, slow progress marred the project from the outset, prompting the SMC to issue notices to the contractor.

Initially, the contractor requested a two-year extension, which was approved by the civic body. Even after this extension, when the work was not completed, an additional six months were granted. Yet, as of now, only 44% of the work has been completed. In May 2023, it was projected that work on 208 girders would be finished, but only 81 girders have been completed.

Due to this delayed progress, a proposal to blacklist the contractor was placed before the Standing Committee, and before approval, the contractor was summoned for a meeting. During the meeting, the contractor sought an additional one-and-a-half years to finish the work, but the request was denied.

Rajan Patel, Chairman of the Standing Committee, confirmed the decision to blacklist the contractor. He stated that a new contractor would be assigned to complete the project, and any additional expenses incurred would be recovered from Ajay Protech. Currently, the contractor has a deposit of ₹9.29 crore with the SMC. DeshGujarat