THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Department minister G. Sudhakaran’s announcement that there would be a new Chief Engineer for road maintenance is being welcomed by road experts. Hereafter a contractor would have to maintain the road for seven years, up from the existing three year liability period. But experts feel that contractors being made liable for seven years is impractical as only new roads can be included and not the existing roads.
Currently there are four Chief Engineers – K. P. Prabhakaran (National Highway), K. Sundaran (Design), M. Pennamma (Buildings) and P. K. Satheeshan (Roads, bridges and administration). Also, there is a project director (P. G. Suresh) for the World Bank funded Kerala State Transport Project. Mr. Sudhakaran had announced on Wednesday that a new Chief Engineer would be appointed from the existing officials and he was awaiting the cabinet nod. He had also said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was keen on bringing a road maintenance policy on the lines of developed countries.
“This year, the PWD will be spending Rs 14,119 crore towards various infrastructure development projects. They would be implemented as per the PWD manual. Even before the road is constructed, a policy has to be brought in to maintain it as seen in developed countries”, said Sudhakaran. A former deputy chief engineer told DC that the LDF Government’s decision to make contractors accountable for their work for seven years would see infrastructure developing.
“What has happened in Alappuzha is that the roads there are not designed. Take for example the road to Thiruvananthapuram airport which is a designed road and it will be free from potholes for 7-8 years”, said the former deputy chief engineer. But another PWD official told DC that all over the world, engineers were constructing roads with Bitumen Macadam and Bitumen Concrete which have a lifespan of only five years. “So the minister’s recommendation that contractors would be made liable for road works for seven years is not feasible”, said a PWD official.
