RUIDP rushes to complete phase two

The Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP) is expected to ink loan agreement with Asian Development Bank for the Rs 4500 crore fourth phase, the second phase of the project is still lagging behind deadline.

The second phase planned to ensure development of urban infrastructure at 15 towns of the state with a cost of Rs 1762 crore was expected to be completed by December 2016. 

An year past the deadline as the officials attempt to ‘financially’ close the project, work related to STP at Bharatpur and sewerage at Jaisalmer are still pending. 

“The works related to phase two will be completed by June 2018,” urban development minister Shrichand Kriplani said after a department meeting. 

The second phase including 109 work packages had completed 22 of these in initial 11 months. However, work delayed on rest for various reasons including public agitation and non performing contractors. In November 2015, four contractor firms were debarred by RUIDP for poor performance, yet the project works continued to delay. 

As of now with work expenditure of nearly Rs 1700 crore the RUIDP claims to have achieved 96 per cent of its target. Meanwhile, the third phase of the project has commenced from 2014 and is expected to be completed by December 2019. Of the 13 cities covered under the phase work orders of Rs 3300 crore have been issued in 11 cities. At the recent meeting the urban development minister has also asked the officials to ensure that contracts for sewerage works in the remaining two cities of Kota and Mount Abu should be finalised soon. 

DNA was the first to report on the proposed fourth phase of the project in its July 18 edition. The phase will cover 39 cities including 10 heritage cities.