Naroda Patiya Flyover Delayed; AMC Slaps Contractor with Rs 50 Lakh Penalty

Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has extended the deadline for completing the 2.5-km Naroda Patiya flyover by nearly a year and imposed a Rs 50 lakh penalty on the contractor for the delay.

The flyover, which is set to be Ahmedabad’s longest, was originally scheduled to be completed by July 2026. The new deadline has now been fixed for June 2027.

According to a municipal corporation official, the Rs 50 lakh penalty was imposed on the contractor for the delay. However, the penalty amount has raised questions as the contract reportedly provides for a fine of 0.05% to 0.1% of the total project cost for every day of delay in flyover and railway overbridge projects.

The Naroda Patiya flyover has an estimated project cost of Rs 220 crore. At 0.05% of the project cost, the penalty works out to Rs 11 lakh per day, while at 0.1%, it amounts to Rs 22 lakh per day. For 150 days of delay, this would translate into a penalty of Rs 16.5 crore at the lower rate and Rs 33 crore at the higher rate.

Meanwhile, Jainik Vakil, chairman of AMC’s Roads and Buildings Committee, has written to the deputy municipal commissioner seeking clarification on various aspects of the project.

One of the issues raised is why the work order was issued before complete site clearance and final drawings were available. AMC policy states that a work order should be issued only after complete site clearance, an obstacle-free workfront, utility mapping and clear construction drawings are in place.

The project records reportedly cite a 556-day delay linked to Good for Construction (GFC) drawings and Roads and Buildings Department approvals. Vakil has sought clarification on whether written certification was obtained from the Roads and Buildings Design Circle regarding these delays.

DeshGujarat