Contract for expansion works at Jammu Airport was given to the GVR Infra Project Ltd., an internationally known reliable firm with expertise in building, way back in 2012 with the understanding that the indicated works would be brought to final completion by October 2014. In several earlier notices, the GVR Infra Project Ltd. was asked to submit the PERT (Project Evaluation & Review Technique) Analysis Chart for completion of work. It failed to submit the document and the work did not show any progress. GVR authorities have been behaving in somewhat mysterious and casual manner and not sticking to time schedule. The result is that the PWD R&B, which is looking after the entire project was forced to issue a notice to the GVR asking it to submit the PERT by 15th May or face cancellation of the contract made with it.
One is at a loss to analyze the mystery of a reputed firm like GVR playing ducks and drakes with the PWD (R&B) Department. From the reports that have trickled down in the media, there is no complaint from the GVR that payments are outstanding or any specific point is controversial in the contract. GVR authorities have been simply asking extension in time schedule on the plea that skilled labourers or some material needed is awaited. It is not giving any solid reason why progress in the work of expanding the airport has remained suspended. There is no hope that the work will be completed by October 2014 keeping in mind the almost negligible work that has been done so far by the concerned company. The 15th May has been fixed as the deadline by which the firm should submit the PERT. The harsh letter sent to the firm categorically warns that if by 15 May the PERT is not received, the contract will be nullified and re-advertising of tenders will be effected cancelling the one accepted earlier.
This is a very unhappy situation. An important question that arises on the sidelines of this story is why is a reputed firm like GVR dragging its feet and not responding positively to the missives of the State Government? This is an interesting question. The PWD should have tried to probe into the matter. That would help them decide the course of action it would think feasible to meet this situation. The works needed to be done have been clearly conveyed to the firm and nothing is left to ambiguity or conjecture. Some questions arise. Has the State Government and the PWD Department conducted thorough investigation in the antecedents of the firm called GVR Infra Project Ltd? Has there been careful scrutiny of the profile of the company and was their performance been evaluated on the basis of ground situation or only paper work was done. Secondly why did the Government wait so long and did not take a time bound action much earlier. If the Government wants the firm to stick to the time schedule, this charitable act should begin from home.
We are disposed to believe that there have been some irritants in relationship between the State PWD and the GVR over some subtle points or issues which both are loath to bring to the public domain. This is a matter that should have been resolved without hassles. It has to be remembered that the subject of expanding Jammu Airport has been hanging fire for a long time. Land acquisition is always a complicated matter and more often than not there is long drawn litigation. In the case of the expansion of Jammu Airport, there was a long dispute between the Army and the Revenue Department of the J&K State. It wasted a number of years and the expansion of the airport was inordinately delayed. Now that that issue has been resolved and the Jammu Airport authorities have been given formal possession of the land, another hurdle has cropped up and that is of speeding up the construction work.
It is all right that the firm has been served with a notice and some more action will follow. But it was advisable for the PWD to coolly discuss the matter with the firm and ascertain precisely what hinders it from carrying forward the work with full speed. Jammu Airport is strategically most important and sensitive. In view of our great security concerns in the entire State, it is highly desirable that the airport is expanded in a way that it facilitates usage for larger activity. Normally the contract was given in 2012 and it should have long been brought to completion
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