The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 63 lakh on Trilok Chand and Company for delaying work on the National HIghway 88.
It was learnt that the contractor had used substandard construction material. The road developed cracks and had to be re-carpeted.
Under the Rs 12.70 crore project, the contractor was to construct the 23-km stretch between Hamirpur and Nadaun.
Sources said the company was given advance payment for the work, still it failed to meet the deadline.
The contractor left the work midway a few months ago and re-started it last week. But bad weather played a spoilsport.
The sources said bitumen shortage of led to the delay.
They said the use of poor quality material worsened the condition of the road.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had said the government would not compromise on the quality of the construction material as it could put the lives of commuters at risk.
He had directed officials of the Public Works Departments (PWD) to use material of good quality.
The authorities have served a notice on the construction company, asking it to complete the work at the earliest.
HL Sharma, Executive Engineer, NH, said the department was not satisfied with the quality and progress of work. He said the company had been imposed a fine of over Rs 63 lakh. Sharma said the work was being monitored, adding that the payment to the contractor had been stopped. He said if the company failed to construct the road on time, the contract would be terminated.
