Mangaluru : Minister Khader faults contractor for delay in Lady Goschen construction

Mangaluru : Minister Khader faults contractor for delay in Lady Goschen construction

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 15, 2015:  Minister for health and family welfare UT Khader stated that the government will initiate action against the contractor entrusted with the responsibility of constructing the new building for Lady Goschen Hospital the delayed work further. 

He went on to say that  the contractor will be blacklisted if he does not expedite the construction work. At present, it is progressing too slow. 

The minister, who attended a review meeting on the progress of the work here recently, said. The minister added that he would see to it that the work is completed in the stipulated time. The building, which is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21.7 crore, will have 275 beds and all modern facilities. The 12,000 square feet building will have five floors apart from a ground floor and basement. The contractor is delaying the work unreasonably . The work progresses only when his workers are free, this is unacceptable.

The new building is funded by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), an Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) company, as a part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. Minister of state (with Independent charge) for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan, who visited the city on April 4, had visited the site and released Rs 12.78 crore for the project.

Minister Khader said that no shortage of funds existed and there is no justification for the slow pace of work. Perhaps this Govt. work is less profitable to the contractors. The state government has given the contractor a deadline of July-end and all steps will be taken to enforce it.

A major portion of the 163-year-old hospital was demolished in 2011 when a donor offered to give Rs 18 crore for the construction of a new multi-storey building. Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa had laid the foundation stone for it in April 2011.  The project was on the back burner due to political games and delays.