To ensure quality and more transparency in road, building, and other works of the Public Works Department, the Minister in-charge Harbhajan Singh ETO has sought suggestions from the Department’s officials. The Minister, presiding over an important meeting, reiterated that the government’s commitment to ensure justifiable use of public money.

He urged the officials deputed at headquarters and field, to submit their suggestions, saying that every suggestion is valuable for the betterment of the department. Simultaneously, the Cabinet Minister directed the senior officials that strategy should be devised in the next meeting to implement these suggestions, and received suggestions will be adopted in light of departmental rules to ensure improvement in works besides avoiding any kind of legal hurdle.

Emphasizing on quality control, the Public Works Minister said that the Department will consider setting up of a ‘quality control wing’ at the field level to ensure the quality of works being done by the Department.

With a view to permanently remove deficiencies in road and other works, the Minister asked the officials to suggest how to ensure qualitative construction of roads, bridges, and buildings. He asked the officials to send their suggestions in writing for adopting mobile testing facility, GPS using information technology, and a supervision mechanism for ensuring quality of materials such as bitumen, gravel etc, at the hot-mix plants and road construction sites.

He categorically emphasized that fraud in cost price reconciliation (CVR) in road works will not be tolerated at any cost.

Emphasizing to strengthen the coordination with various departments for ongoing works in the field, the Minister said that a meeting with concerned departments will be held at the state level in a few days. He asked the officials to plan for meeting with various concerned departments and contractors to ensure quality government infrastructure.