Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Government of India has imposed a Rs 69 crore penalty on UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd (UPSBCL) for its inability to complete the construction of the Jorhat-Majuli bridge across the Brahmaputra River. The UPSBCL also forfeited the bank guarantee of Rs 19 crore, which was deposited earlier before the bidding agency.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) awarded the construction work on this important bridge to the UPSBCL in 2021. However, some issues led to a complete halt in the project work in the first part of 2024. The construction firm, finally, had to surrender the work due to its inability to complete the work on time.
Sources in the Assam PWD (NH) division said the Government of India has imposed a Rs 69 crore penalty on the UPSBCL. The bidding process for the balance work on the much-awaited Jorhat-Majuli bridge project is expected to start shortly.
Meanwhile, AGP’s Rajya Sabha MP Birendra Prasad Baishya raised a question in Parliament today regarding the construction of the bridge connecting river island Majuli with the mainland in Jorhat.
In response to MP Baishya’s query, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, replied, “The work of the bridge connecting Majuli and Jorhat across the Brahmaputra River on NH-715K in the State of Assam commenced on July 9, 2021, and had a scheduled date of completion as July 8, 2025, as per the contract conditions. Currently, the original contractor has withdrawn from the project with physical progress of 30.65%. Penalties have been imposed as per the contract condition on the contractor, and the contract has been closed. A revised cost estimate for execution of the balance work has been sanctioned for Rs. 1,019.17 crore on March 29, 2025. The remaining leftover work is targeted for completion in 2 years from the date of commencement.”
Also Read: Centre Approves Rs. 1019 Crore Revised Cost Estimate For Completion Of Majuli-Jorhat Bridge
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