XENs become partners of road contractors, corruption has increased, says Gehlot

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, on Thurday, laid the foundation stone through virtual medium for the construction works of 113 roads, bridges and ROBs covering a length of 3063 km, built at a cost of Rs 3324 crore. During his address in the foundation laying program, Gehlot bluntly told officials, “Contractors are afraid of Chief Engineer as to when will they stop signing the bills. Nowadays many XENs become partners of contractor. Corruption has increased and in such a situation the contractor compromises in quality. The quality of roads would have deteriorated only due to the partnership of officials with the contractor.

We must work in public interest. You should ask yourself whether you are working in public interest or not,” he said. Gehlot said that there should be complete monitoring of roads made by contractors and its responsibility will not be of people but of officers of Chief Engineer level. “Contractors have also been directed that if the road is damaged, then their maintenance work is also the responsibility of the contractor. The state which will have good roads, where law and order situation will be good, transport will be better and communication will be good, investment will always come in those states. Rajasthan is much better because it has good roads, law & order & other facilities better than other states. That’s why Invest Rajasthan Summit is starting in Raj on Oct 7, where investments worth Rs 11L cr have been signed so far,” he said.