Motorists are left high and dry following delay in repair works on the ever-busy stretch from NTR Circle to Machilipatnam, thanks to bureaucratic logjam.
While officials from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department said the 64.5-km NH 9 stretch was formally handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for widening, the latter maintained that expansion and repairs could not be taken up owing to delay in finalising tenders.
“We called for tenders thrice from January this year, but there was no response. A few days ago, we received a tender, and we will finalise it after scrutinising it,” said a senior NHAI official on condition of anonymity.
Rs. 3.5 crore sanctionedThe NHAI has already sanctioned Rs. 3.5 crore for road repair works. “We will commence works after finalising tenders. We will also seek prior permission from the Election Commission before commencing works, as the Model Code of Conduct is in force,” he said.
R&B Engineer-in-Chief in Hyderabad and Executive Engineer in Vijayawada have written to the NHAI several times since 2010 highlighting the problems facing motorists. But, there has been no response, the official lamented, adding that the stretch was also included in the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP).
Even as the blame game is on, motorists are facing untold misery. “We request senior officials in Hyderabad to intervene and discuss with the authorities concerned in Vijayawada to expedite repair works,” said K. Sambasiva Rao, a motorist.
