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BACKGROUND

Article 13, clause no. 13.2 of the Concession Agreement states that:

13.2 Inspection

“During the Construction Period the Independent Engineer shall inspect the Project

Highway at least once a month and make a report of such inspection (the “Inspection

Report”) stating in reasonable detail the defects or deficiencies, if any, with particular

reference to the Scope of the Project and Specifications and Standards. It shall send a

copy of the Inspection Report to the Authority and the Concessionaire within 7 (Seven)

days of such inspection and upon receipt thereof, the Concessionaire shall rectify and

remedy the defects or deficiencies, if any, stated in the Inspection Report. Such

inspection or submission of Inspection Report by the Independent Engineer shall not

relieve or absolve the Concessionaire of its obligation and liabilities hereunder in any

manner whatsoever”.

To comply with the requirement of the above clause of Concession Agreement, a Joint Site

Inspection program of the Project Highway was planned for 22-10-2015 by a joint team

comprising IE and EPC Contractor and the same was informed to the Concessionaire vide this

office letter ref. no. LASA/BK/IE/73426/2015-1047, dated 16/10/2015. During site Inspection,

whole team of IE, Representative of EPC Contractor Mr. Veer Naidu (Project Manager), Mr. V.

Ratnam (Deputy Project Manager, Highway), Mr Adi Narayan (Material Engineer) and other

site engineers were available during site Inspection. Concessionaire’s representative did not

join the Joint Inspection. This Joint Site Inspection Report is based on the findings during site

inspection by the whole team of IE (TL, B/SE, SQME, QS, AHE-2, ABE-2, AQME-2 and

Survey Engineer).

Project Brief

The NH-34 Barasat to Krishnagar Section in the state of West Bengal is located in the

northern part of Metropolitan city Kolkata. It is part of the proposed Barasat to Raiganj section.

The NH-34 is an integral component of the National and Regional road network. The project

highway described in this report is under construction and runs from Km 31.000 to 115.000

between Barasat to Krishnagar on NH 34 in the state of West Bengal.

The completed NH-34 will connect the traffic from Kolkata to Siliguri as well as facilitating the

movements between the State highways (SH), Major district roads (MDR) and other district

roads (ODR). The increase in car ownership, changes in land use and travel patterns have

resulted in congestion on many parts of the State road network including NH-34. The NH-34

currently not only functions as a main corridor to Nepal and Bangladesh but as an urban

collector/distributor between communities, employment and shopping centres.

The alignment traverses through two Districts: North 24 Parganas and Nadia. The terrain

along the project road is generally plain. The predominant land use along the project road is

agricultural with ribbon development near human settlements. At certain locations,

encroachments within the ROW have been observed in the form of Shops, Hotels, Dhabas

and various other commercial establishments. The road passes through towns of Santoshpur-

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Starting point of the Project Highway (2246’33””, 8830’13”), Kamdebpur (2247’13”,

8830’13”), Amdanga (2234’06”, 8830’27”), Gadamara (2254’00”, 8832’22”), Barajaguli,

Chakdah (2304’52”, 8832’35”), Ranaghat, Phulia, Shantipur (2315’59”, 8826’50”),

Govindapur and Krishnagar(2322’40”, 8829’10”) and end point of the Project Highway

(2355’47”, 8828’08”) etc.

Map Showing Road Alignment of NH-34

I. SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of the Access Controlled Highway Project as detailed in the concession Agreement

shall be broadly classified as follows:

Construction of Four Laning of NH-34 from km 31.000 to km 115.000 (Existing

chainage) or 115.341 (Designed chainage) in the state of West Bengal.

Construction of 2 nos of Major bridges, 5 nos of Minor Bridges, 134 nos of slab culverts

and 17 nos of Pipe culverts on main carriage way under New/widening/ Reconstruction

Scheme as per Schedule B of Concession Agreement.

Construction of 4 nos of ROBs, 1 no of RUB, 2 nos of Vehicular Underpass, 12 major

junctions, 14 nos of minor junctions, 1 no of toll plaza and others Schemed as per

Schedule B and Schedule C of Concession Agreement

During the entire construction period, the Project Highway is to be maintained by the

Concessionaire at his own cost from the appointed date.

Traffic Management and Safety of workers and the road users shall be maintained at all

times in accordance with the relevant IRC and relevant Codes as stipulated in the

Concession Agreement without any deviations.

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The scope of the work for the Project Highway also includes but not limited to the following:

Road side furniture

Pedestrian Facilities

Highway Lighting Systems

Junctions(Major & Minor)

Tree plantation and landscaping

Truck lay byes & Bus lay byes with bus shelters.

II. SITE INSPECTION

Joint Site inspection was conducted on 16th October, 2015 by the team comprising IE (TL,

B/SE, SQME.QS, AHE-2, ABE-2, AQME-2 and Survey Engineer); and EPC Contractor were

present during site Inspection. The visit was started from Km 115 +000. The inspection

program started at 11:00 AM and concluded at Km 51 +000 on the same day at 4:15PM.As

there was no work from Km 31+000 to 51+000.

III. FINDINGS IN JOINT SITE INSPECTION

There is virtually no highway work due to lack of approved borrow area, except dumping of

sand/sandy soil in some location and GSB and WMM work in some stretches and DBM work

in very few stretches. Some structural works like piling works of ROBs, return walls of box

culverts and pushing of Tunnel at RUB are in progress. Work progress is very slow. The

compliance of comments given by the Independent Engineer in the Reports of previous Joint

Site Inspections was reviewed during this inspection. The works which are under progress

were inspected. The following are the findings:

1. Box Culvert (Km 113+980) RHS

During joint Inspection; it has been observed that shuttering and reinforcement binding for the

box culvert is in progress.

Shuttering and Reinforcement work @ 113+980 Box culvert

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2. Earth Work from Km 113+200 – Km 113+400 (RHS)

Fine sand (silver sand) filling work for embankment work was in progress from Km 113+200 to

113+400 (RHS). But the work is being done without confinement. EPC contractor is reminded

submit the methodology of embankment work using cohesion less soil and follow procedure

mentioned in IRC SP 58.

Embankment work without confinement from Km113+200 to 113+400 (RHS)

Embankment work without confinement from Km113+200 to 113+400 (RHS)

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3. Km 113+528 (Jalangi Major Bridge)

The work of this bridge has been stopped since 27-07-2015. Till date, 32/64 piles have been

completed. At present no contractor at site. Kamar infra (contractor) has removed all their

equipment and machineries. At present there are some Sheet pile materials and some liners

are lying at site. EPC Contractor representative said that work in this bridge will be restarted

from 1st week of September after engaging new contractor. But there is no advancement from

the status of previous month. Concessionaire is again instructed to re-start the work of this

bridge at the earliest as the site is dry now.

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Site clear but no work, no equipment @ Km 113+528 (Jalangi Major Bridge)

4. Km 112+ 247 (RUB)

I. 8 units (6 units for left and 2 units for right tunnel) of tunnel casting have been

completed.

II. CRS approval for pushing tunnel under Railway track has been obtained.

III. Till date 19.00 m of left tunnel pushing under railway track embankment has been

completed.

IV. 11m side pushing of a box was already done previously for clearing space to cast

tunnel.

V. Grouting work to stabilize the original ground (below raft of box) was in progress

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Pushing of the box under railway track

Boxes of tunnel at RUB are ready for pushing

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Grouting work in progress

5. Km 111+345 (Krishnagar ROB)

Piling work of A1, A2 and P1 complete. 3/6 pile of P2 completed and cage lowering for P2-

6 was in progress.

One temple is obstructing the piling work of P4 which is to be shifted for smooth

construction of this ROB

Cage lowering at location P2-6 in progress

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Temple at P4 Work site of Krishnagar ROB ,Km 111+400

6. Km 111+201 (Minor Bridge)

Casting of slab has been completed on 09.09.2015 and after that time, no activities are in

progress. Concessionaire was instructed to continue the work of this culvert.

Minor Bridge at Km 111+201 (LHS structure completed)

7. DBM Work:

i) Km 109+640 –Km 110+140:

At Km 109+640 to 110+240 DBM 1st has been completed. It is observed that core cutting

holes are not filled. EPC Contractor is instructed to fill these holes immediately and core holes

should be filled immediately after cutting in future also. EPC Contractor is planning for 2nd

(Top layer) DBM. Median kerb casting in the location has been completed.

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ii) Km 101+910 to 102+265, Km 103+360 to Km 103+380: Single layer DBM completed.

iii) Km 102+265 – Km 103+360: Two layer of DBM completed.

The EPC Contractor is also instructed to fill the shoulder portion before allowing traffic in newly

done DBM locations.

Tree plantation has been done on the shoulder (LHS) by “Zilla Parishad “(MG-NREGA) from

Km Km 109+040 –Km 110+140 without any intimation to the Concessionaire, which will

disturb the construction of Project Highway.

Concessionaire is again advised to request the concerned Authority to remove the plantation.

Plantation on shoulder and primed surface

Core filling left in DBM

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1st Layer DBM completed from Km 109+640 –Km 110+140

8. Madhucon Camp @ 93+000: RE Panel Casting

RE panel casting was in progress. But it has been observed that curing of the casted panels is not

proper and as per submitted methodology. It is instructed to follow the curing process as per submitted

methodology.

Lifting hooks are provided in the casted RE panels, which is not shown in the submitted drawing. It is

instructed to show the lifting hooks in the drawing and submit revised drawing of RE panel.

MTC for galvanization of steel used as hook in the RE panel is not available with the Concessionaire.

Concessionaire is advised to provide MTC of IE for checking.

Curing of RE Panel at Madhucon Camp at Km 93+000

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RE Panel casting in progress

9. QC Laboratory

Concrete cubes from site (Km 113+358 ROB-M30, RE Panel-M35, Median Kerb from Km

51+880 to 52+010-M20) of age 7 days age were tested and found satisfactory. Result of tests

are enclosed as Appendix: 1-3.

Site Concrete cube testing at QC Lab

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Site cube testing at QC lab

10. ROB at Km 75+955 (Ranaghat)

Piling work of A1and P1 locations are completed. At P2 location 3/6 of piles completed. At

location A2 pile no. A2-04 was in progress and cage lowering was ongoing.

There is problem in piling at P2-4, P2-5 and P2-6,due to underground 11KV feeder

electrical transmission line. Concessionaire is advised to take up this issue to the

concerned authority at the earliest so the three would be no problem for piling work.

Preparation for load test on test pile was in progress

Cage lowering for pile

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Reinforcement cage ready for lowering

Preparation for load test on test pile @ Km 75+955 (Ranaghat ROB)

11. Km 66+360 (Chakdah VUP)

Test piling completed on 19-08-2015. One set of machinery for piling is at site. No further

progress can be seen at this location. Representative of EPC Contractor said that the work

is stopped due to overhead electric transmission line and said shifting of electric line will

take about 10 days.

Concessionaire is instructed to talk with local authority to resolve the problem.

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Preparation for piling work @ Km 66+360 (Chakdah VUP)

Preparation for piling work @ Km 66+360 (Chakdah VUP)

12. Safety

During joint inspection, it is found that the Concessionaire has adopted some safety measures

at site but not sufficient for the safety of workers and safety of road users. Concessionaire is

instructed to install sufficient sign boards at work site as well as along the Project Highway

showing “Work in Progress”, “Man at Work”, “Road Narrows”, “Accisent Prone Zone” etc,as

recommended by safety consultant.Some new safety signboards are installed.

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Newly installed sign board

Cordoning of work site during piling work at Km 111+345 (Krishnagar ROB)

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IV. RECOMMENDATION:

The concessionaire has not yet fully addressed/responded/complied the instructions /

comments / suggestions given by the Independent Engineer in previous Joint Inspection

Reports. It is again recommended to address the issues raised by Independent Engineer in

this Joint Site Inspection Report along with previous reports and correct/rectify the deficiencies

at the earliest to achieve the quality works.

Similarly, it is recommended to adopt proper and adequate safety measures for construction

zone as well as construction labours. Similarly, it is advised to strictly follow Safety Manual

submitted by BKEL on 16/02/2013 vide their letter ref. no. BKEL/NH-34/LASA/TL/2013/066

and recommendation of safety Consultant and safety expert.

It is also advised to expedite the work as lot of encumbrance free land (64 Km) is available for

four lanning.

CONTENTS

Background ........................................................................................................................................... 1

I. Scope of Work ............................................................................................................................... 2

II. Site Inspection ............................................................................................................................... 3

III. Findings in Joint Site Inspection ..................................................................................................... 3

1. Box Culvert (Km 113+980) RHS .................................................................................................... 3

4. Km 112+ 247 (RUB) ...................................................................................................................... 5

5. Km 111+345 (Krishnagar ROB) ..................................................................................................... 7

6. Km 111+201 (Minor Bridge) ........................................................................................................... 8

7. DBM Work: .................................................................................................................................... 8

8. Madhucon Camp @ 93+000: RE Panel Casting .......................................................................... 10

9. QC Laboratory ............................................................................................................................. 11

10. ROB at Km 75+955 (Ranaghat) ................................................................................................... 12

11. Km 66+360 (Chakdah VUP) ........................................................................................................ 13

12. Safety .......................................................................................................................................... 14

IV. Recommendation: ........................................................................................................................ 16

National Highways Authority of India

(Ministry of Road Transport & Highways)

Government of India

Four Laning of Barasat-Krishnagar Section of NH-34 from Km 31.000 to Km 115.000 in the State of West Bengal under

NHDP Phase-III on DBFOT (Annuity) Basis

MONTHLY JOINT SITE INSPECTION REPORT

OCTOBER, 2015

LEA Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi