Dehradun: Following the instructions of Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, a meeting was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Secretary to the Chief Minister and Garhwal Commissioner Dr. Vinay Shankar Pandey with the Devbhoomi Contractors Welfare Committee of Uttarakhand. Various officials from the Public Works Department also participated in this meeting. In-depth discussions took place regarding the 11-point memorandum presented by the contractors’ association. An additional point was included during the meeting, resulting in a total of 15 points for decision-making. After these decisions, the contractors’ association announced the withdrawal of their strike.
Contractors to Receive Increased Opportunities for Work
Among the decisions made in the meeting was a suggestion to modify the size of tenders. To allow small contractors to secure more work, it was proposed to divide the works of Phase 1 and Phase 2 into smaller portions. Additionally, tenders will be invited for the road surfacing works in divided sections. The demand to increase the single bid limit from ₹1.5 crore to ₹3 crore was also accepted.
Settlement of Pending Payments and Simplification of Registration Process
The meeting also resolved to prioritize the settlement of pending payments, particularly under the disaster and maintenance head. Action will be taken based on the recommendations of the committee formed to address pending security deposits. Positive consideration will also be given to the contractors’ demands for simplifying the registration process, including discussions on eliminating the requirement for permanent technical staff.
Increased Safety and Insurance Coverage
Furthermore, the meeting agreed to provide insurance coverage for machinery and labor involved in disaster-related work. There is also a proposal to increase the experience limit for contractors from 5 years to 10-15 years. Each executing unit will identify space for contractors to sit. These decisions are expected to provide relief to contractors in the state and expedite their work. Necessary actions will be taken at the departmental and governmental levels to ensure the practicality of the decisions made in the meeting.
