Deputy CM Arun Saw: Public Works Department updated the old SOR prevalent since 2015, financial risk of contractors will be reduced
- New SOR will be effective from 1st January 2025
PBMC/OPRMC will be implemented in the state for maintenance of roads, department will start pilot project soon
Deputy CM Arun Saw today released the new rate schedule (SOR) for road and bridge works. The old SOR, which was in vogue since 2015, has been updated by the Public Works Department of the state government. New machinery and new techniques of construction have also been included in the new SOR.These will reduce the financial risk of contractors along with ensuring quality work. The new SOR will be implemented in the state from January 1, 2025. For effective maintenance of roads, PBMC/OPRMC (Performance Based Maintenance Contract/Output and Performance Based Maintenance Contract) will also be implemented in Chhattisgarh. For this, a pilot project will be started by the department soon.
Deputy CM Arun Saw, while addressing the press conference organized on the occasion of release of new SOR, said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, special emphasis is being laid on ensuring the quality of construction works and completing them within the time limit in Chhattisgarh.After the implementation of the new SOR, these will become easier. He informed that the currently prevalent SOR is applicable from 1st January 2015. At that time, the labour rates, material rates and machinery rates prevalent in 2014 were included in it. In which a lot of changes have taken place after ten years. The new rate schedule has been prepared on the basis of the currently prevalent rate of labour, rate of materials and rate of machinery.
Deputy CM Arun Saw said that the rate schedule issued in the year 2015 was prepared by incorporating all the taxes prevalent at that time. GST implemented in the country from 1st July 2017 has been incorporated in the new SOR. Contractors will quote their tender rates inclusive of GST so that the contractor will not have to pay GST separately, but the impact of GST will be included in the cost of the work. By keeping the rates without the effect of GST, the contractor does not have to bear the risk of work due to changes in GST rates from time to time. The prevailing GST rates including the effect of GST will be added in the estimate. By doing this, the contractor will not face any financial risk.
Deputy CM Arun Saw told in the press conference that in the last 10 years, many new technologies, new materials and IRC have been used to change the working methods of various works.Provision for the use of these new technologies and materials has also been made in the new SOR. These include soil stabilization with cement and chemicals, pavement white topping, use of aluminum composite material sheeting in road signage, precast RCC drain, precast box culvert,The foundation work includes use of high grades of RCC like M-40, M-45, M-50, pre-stressing in sub-structure work, bamboo crash barriers and noise barriers.
Deputy CM Arun Saw said that with the implementation of the new rate schedule, the assessment of work cost in the DPR/estimate of construction works will be realistic.And the amount to be given administrative approval for the works will reduce the need for revised approval while doing the work. Meaningful results will be achieved in ensuring quality of works and completion within the time limit.
Deputy CM Arun Saw said that in the current system for the maintenance of roads, maintenance work is done by inviting tenders and selecting contractors after forecasting the possibility of the road getting damaged during the rainy season.Many times a situation arises that the road is in bad condition but due to non-availability of agency for maintenance, there is delay in filling the potholes and maintenance of the roads.Many times, even after the agency is decided, the roads remain potholed and damaged due to the contractor not carrying out the maintenance work on time. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Public Works Department of many states appoint PBMC for the maintenance of roads.(Peformance Based Maintenance Contract)/ओ.पी.आर.एम.सी. (Output and Performance Based Maintenance Contract) The maintenance of roads is being done through the system. For its maintenance, roads are selected and a single agency is appointed for continuous maintenance for 5 to 7 years.And in case of road damage or any sudden repair/major damage, the road repair work is carried out within the stipulated time period contracted by the designated agency for the repair work.Regular maintenance of the road is also done by the contractor within the time limit. If the contractor does not do the road surface improvement work within the stipulated time limit, then there is a provision of penalty for each day of delay.This process is also monitored online, so that where the road is in good or bad condition can be seen from the control room. The Public Works Department has decided to work with this method in Chhattisgarh as well.Soon it will be implemented by selecting some districts on a pilot basis. On getting positive results of the pilot projects, it will be implemented for the maintenance of roads in the entire state.