Road Construction Department Gearing Up to Improve Roads; Reviewing Contractors' 'OPMRC' Contracts, Special Repair Campaign to Begin After the Monsoons
Bhagalpur, Chief Correspondent: The Road Construction Department has become fully alert to improve road conditions across Silk City Bhagalpur and the entire state, and to crack down on contractors who show negligence in maintenance. The department is thoroughly sifting through files for the upkeep of all roads in urban and rural areas. Under this, the Output and Performance-Based Road Assets Maintenance Contract (OPMRC) of contractors is primarily being reviewed to ascertain which roads fall under the purview of this scheme and what the maintenance status is on each road. According to departmental officials, as soon as the rainy season ends, road repair work under the OPMRC period will commence on a war footing.
What Is the OPMRC Scheme and Why Is It Needed?
The OPMRC policy was implemented by the Road Construction Department of the Government of Bihar for the long-term maintenance of roads:
Prescribed Tenure for Road Upkeep: Under this contract, the construction agency (contractor) that builds the road is itself entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the road, carrying out patch work, and filling minor potholes for a specified period.
Establishing Accountability: The main objective of this arrangement is to ensure that contractors do not merely construct roads and walk away, but maintain the quality and health of the roads throughout the contract period. The department is now investigating whether the roads currently plagued by potholes or damage fall under OPMRC or not.
Searching Files: What Is the Condition of Which Road?
Through files and reports being retrieved by the department, checks are being conducted to see when each contractor performed road maintenance tasks during their tenure:
Identification of Roads Covered Under the Scheme: Roads whose contracts remain active under the OPMRC period will be the direct responsibility of the concerned contractor to repair. Contractors will be directed to immediately spruce up the roads in accordance with contract rules.
Alternatives for Roads Without OPMRC: The department has also clarified that for roads whose OPMRC contracts have expired or which do not fall under this scheme, special repairs and maintenance will be executed directly by the Road Construction Department. Estimated estimates and proposals are being prepared for this purpose as well.
Work to Hit the Ground After the Monsoons
Considering the monsoon and heavy rainfall season, carrying out asphalt or gravel work on roads is technically unviable at present, as rain tends to damage roads further:
Special Campaign Post-Monsoon: Executive Engineer Vimlesh Kumar stated that following the complete report and review of OPMRC, road repair work will begin rapidly in a systematic manner as soon as the rainy season concludes.
Relief for Commuters: During the rainy days, general citizens and motorists face severe hardships due to waterlogging and potholes on several city roads. This departmental exercise fosters hope that the visage of the city's major roads will transform immediately after the rains, ensuring smooth transit.
The Road Construction Department's step to comb through contractors' OPMRC contracts is a crucial initiative toward administrative transparency and road safety. This will not only rein in negligent contractors but also provide city residents with pothole-free, high-quality roads. This departmental strictness will prove helpful in strengthening road infrastructure in the days ahead.
