PWD issues notice to L&T regarding defects in Pragati Maidan tunnel
The Public Works Department (PWD) of the delhi government has issued a notice to Larsen & Toubro over alleged 'serious deficiencies' in the Pragati Maidan tunnel project. The Public Works Department has demanded a 'token amount' of Rs 500 crore from the company and has directed to start the repair work immediately. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said that it has filed a counter claim of Rs 500 crore against the Public Works Department.
The notice was issued on february 3, in which the company was asked to respond within 15 days. prime minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 1.3 km long tunnel and five underpasses on june 19, 2022 as part of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project. Its objective is to facilitate connectivity with Central delhi and eastern parts of delhi as well as noida and Ghaziabad. Last year, during the floods in delhi, the tunnel was closed several times due to waterlogging.
PWD made this allegation in the notice
The notice alleges that with the passage of time, "serious deficiencies emerged in the project which were not only of technical nature but also of design nature." The most serious and worrying issue is water logging at various places in the tunnel or underpass. This issue, especially during the monsoon season, led to closure of the entire project to the general public and ultimately led to more blockages and congestion on main roads throughout the New delhi area, defeating the purpose of this ambitious project.
The notice also highlighted the fact that the entire design and implementation of the project was under the control of L&T and there was no role of any government agency in it. PWD said in the notice that 'the company's failure to act on the issues data-faced by the general public and the resulting threat to public safety, is not only a breach of your duty and obligations towards the general public but also a violation of the terms of the agreement.