No bids for 3 rounds due to Naxal threat: Govt to HC on bridge delay

Time of India

27-04-2025

Raipur: In response to delay in constructing a bridge over Chintavagu River in Bijapur, the state govt has informed the Chhattisgarh High Court that contractors are least interested in undertaking construction work in highly Naxal-affected districts of Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in the state.
In a previous order, the high court had asked the Bijapur collector to file a personal affidavit regarding the construction of a bridge over the Chintavagu River. Now, in the affidavit submitted to the high court, the collector stated that these districts are heavily affected by Naxal activities, which is deterring contractors from participating in any construction in the region.
The collector further said that 3 rounds of bidding for the bridge were held from Nov to Feb but no contractors came forward until the fourth round in March wherein one contractor submitted a bid but a technical bid is yet to be opened.
The state govt, in its submission, also informed the court that it decided on April 1, 2025, to execute sanctioned construction work through the 'Zila Nirman Samiti' if this reluctance of contractors continues and they do not recieve any bids from them. The Samiti is authorised to carry out works up to Rs 10 crore in the district.
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The High Court, hearing a Suo Moto public interest litigation, had directed the Bijapur collector on March 10, 2025, to file a personal affidavit detailing the response to the third call for tenders (Notice Inviting Tender - NIT).
The Bijapur collector's affidavit acknowledged the necessity of a bridge over the Chintavagu River and stated that a request was made to the Public Works Department (PWD). Administrative approval of Rs 787.66 lakh for the bridge construction on the Gorella-Minnur route was granted on Oct 18, 2024.
The proposal was included in the 2024-25 budget as well, it stated.
Then, the chief engineer, PWD, Bridge Zone, accorded administrative approval for the work on Oct 24, 2024, the collector submitted.
NITs were subsequently issued on Nov 22 and Dec 27, 2024, and Feb 28, 2025, but no contractors came forward due to the 'Naxal deterrent'.
A fourth call for tenders was issued on March 28, 2025, and one contractor submitted a bid. The technical bid is yet to be opened.
The district collector informed the court that if the fourth call is unsuccessful, the bridge construction will be undertaken by the Zila Nirman Samiti, as per the order dated April 1, 2025.
Advocate general Prafull N. Bharat told the division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma during a recent hearing that the third round of the tender process was completed without any bidders, and the fourth call was issued on March 28, 2025.
If there are no participants this time, the Zila Nirman Samiti will initiate the bridge construction, he said.