‘Funds Scarce For Schools, Health Centres, But ₹4.69 Crore For Flyover Upkeep’: MP High Court Pulls Up Govt

The Madhya Pradesh High Court in Bhopal expressed disapproval of the state government's decision to issue a fresh maintenance tender for a flyover near Bhopal's Habibganj railway station, despite citing a lack of funds for other essential projects such as schools, health centers, and court complexes. The court's division bench questioned why they were issuing a new ₹4.69 crore maintenance tender when the work was already part of the contractor's obligations.

The court stayed the order blacklisting the contractor responsible for the flyover and halted the process for the new maintenance tender. Upon inspection, certain defects were found in the flyover, and the contractor was given three days to rectify them. However, the Public Works Department (PWD) subsequently issued a new maintenance tender for the same tasks.

The petitioner argued that rectifying defects identified during inspections was part of the contractor's contractual duties, but the PWD proceeded with the new tender. The High Court stayed the blacklisting order and the tender process, directing the contractor to rectify the defects and submit a report at the next hearing.