2 NHAI Officials Suspended Over ‘Irregularities’ In Odisha Project

Bhubaneswar: Two National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials posted in Odisha have been suspended for alleged irregulariteis in Cuttack-Sambalpur NH 55 expansion work which is facing tardy progress.

According to sources, Project Director (Technical) A S Rao and  a finance officer were suspended by NHAI for allegedly showing undue favour to a Hyderabad-based infrastructure company.

The firm bagged contract for the four-laning work of Cuttack-Sambalpur section of NH-55 (old NH-42) at a cost of Rs 2,367 crore, which escalated to Rs 4,482 crore as the expansion work has been going on for the last around seven years.

As per information, Rao, who was posted at Dhenkanal, was transferred to Keonjhar section a few days ago before being placed under suspension. An internal audit reportedly had been initiated against the two officers.

While senior NHAI officials remained tight-lipped, sources informed TNIE that more heads are likely to roll. Meanwhile, Sunil Kumar, a DGM at the NHAI regional office, has been given the additional charge of Keonjhar project director.

Around 40 per cent of the 263-km NH 55 four-laning work, which was to be completed by 2020, still remains incomplete. Divided in three packages, the expansion project had begun between 2017 and 2018.

The company backed out of the project after it allegedly went bankrupt following severe financial crisis. Though it has appointed three sub-contractors, approved by the NHAI, to execute the pending works of NH-55, excess payments were made to the contractor, the sources added.