Pune: Reliance Infra has once again sought an extension of deadline till March 2021 for completing the road widening work of Pune – Satara Highway. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had issued a notice of suspending the services of Reliance Infra for delaying the completion of project within deadline. However, it has come to light that NHAI head office is avoiding taking any action against Reliance Infra for reasons better known to senior officials of the government agency.
Its almost seven years now that the first deadline for completion of Pune – Satara Highway stretch road widening work has been lapsed. The NHAI had issued notice for suspending the contractor for delaying the work completion. The notice was issued five months earlier, but since then no further action has been taken by the government officials.
Local NHAI officials are pointing fingers towards the officials of NHAI head office. Meanwhile, Reliance Infra has once again sought extension of deadline till March 2021 for completing the project.
The NHAI is in a fix now. Whether to take action against Reliance Infra or to grant permission for deadline extension, the senior NHAI officials are unable to decide on the issue. Meanwhile, the Pune – Satara stretch has become dangerous and accident-prone for motorists due to the incomplete work.
Suhas Chitnis, Project Director of NHAI told media persons, “The head office will be taking decision regarding the suspension of work notice given to Reliance Infra. The company has also sought extension of deadline for completing the work and that decision too will be taken by officials from the head office.”
Speaking to media, Mauli Darwatkar, Convenor of Khed Shivapur Toll Naka Hatav Kruti Samiti said, “It seems that the NHAI is shielding Reliance Infra despite the latter violating the contractual terms. The NHAI is mulling over granting extension of deadline to Reliance Infra despite the pending notice decision. If any extension of deadline is granted to Reliance, we will protest against it.”