- Secretary of the Public Works Department reviews departmental projects
- Emphasis placed on accelerating work through better coordination with contractors
- Directives given to promptly eliminate ‘black spots’ (accident-prone areas) in coordination with RTO and SP offices
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Bansal, Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD), reviewed departmental projects today during three separate meetings. At the state secretariat, he assessed the progress of road and bridge construction in the Bastar division—undertaken under the RRP (Road Requirement Plan) and RCPLWEA (Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas)—and issued instructions to ensure the quality of both construction work and materials. He directed officials to accelerate all projects by establishing better coordination and communication with contractors. Furthermore, he ordered strict action against contractors who fail to make progress or exhibit negligence, including the cancellation of their registration.
Mr. Bansal also reviewed the department’s efforts to eliminate ‘black spots’ on roads. He instructed officials to coordinate with the RTO and the offices of the Superintendent of Police (SP) to take the necessary steps to remove these hazardous locations. He emphasized the need for prompt action to ensure the safety of lives and property on the roads. Additionally, he reviewed the progress of projects supported by the CIRF (Central Road and Infrastructure Fund) and NABARD.
At the PWD headquarters, ‘Nirman Bhawan’, the Secretary reviewed the operations of the Electrical and Mechanical wing. He mandated the use of high-quality materials and appliances in all construction projects. He also called for fiscal prudence, ensuring the cost-effective maintenance of equipment, buildings, and other assets. Furthermore, he reviewed the status of payments made to contractors for electrical and mechanical works. He issued instructions to ensure that all bills—up to those for the 2025-26 financial year—are paid by December. He also requested that details regarding all pending payments be provided within one week.
Mr. Bansal held a meeting with the Chief Engineers of all zones—covering National Highways, Electrical/Mechanical, and Bridge Construction—and directed them to accelerate the construction of buildings, roads, and bridges. He inquired about the progress of tenders for new projects and instructed that work orders for projects with approved tenders be issued promptly to the selected contractors and agencies. He also reviewed the status of land acquisition, forest diversion, and compensation-related matters. Furthermore, he directed departmental officials to compile a list of roads that could be repaired before June 2027.
The Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD) emphasized the need for strict monitoring of the work being carried out by contractors, alongside ensuring regular payments to them. He instructed officials to conduct field visits at least two days every week. He also directed all Chief Engineers to hold regular review meetings—involving personnel ranging from Superintending Engineers down to Sub-Engineers—to assess the progress of ongoing projects. Additionally, he reviewed matters concerning compassionate appointments, pension cases, and preparations for the new budget.
The meeting was attended by the PWD Engineer-in-Chief, Mr. V.K. Bhatpahari; Additional Secretary, Mr. S.N. Srivastava; Additional Managing Director of CGRIDCL, Mr. Shashank Pandey; and Deputy Secretary, Mrs. Anshika Pandey. Also present were all Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers from the Electrical and Mechanical zones, and various Sub-Divisional Officers.