Bhuj: Collector of Kutch Pravina DK stated in a letter to the secretary of Gujarat Road and Buildings Department about the delay in the development of Bhuj-Bhachau Highway and Bhuj-Nakhatrana Highway and in construction of overbridge between Bhuj and Bhachau. It was requested in the letter to hand-over these works to the Roads and Buildings Department which is currently under GSRDCL (Gujarat State Road Development Corporation Limited) so that regular monitoring by regional officers can be possible.

The construction of the route of 77 kms from Nal Circle in Bhuj to Bhachau was handed over to private agency Valecha Engineering Company in 2010 by GSRDCL on a contract of 20 years. The work was started after a year with an aim of its completion within two years and collection of toll tax in exchange of the maintenance till 20 years. Though the completion of this work is still pending. Later, many people and officers had made appeals regarding the delay in this work. Accidents are occuring frequently on Bhuj-Bhachau Highway at present.

Executive engineer of Roads and Building Department Rajubhai Panchal informed that the patch-work is currently being done and its cost will be recovered from the agency’s bill by GSRDCL as per contract.

There is no district level office of GSRDCL in Kutch which creates difficulty in regular monitoring. MP of Kutch and Morbi Vinod Chavda and MLA Vasanbhai Ahir have appealed DyCM Nitinbhai Patel to handover the development of this route to the Road and Building Department. DeshGujarat