Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar has said the much-awaited hospital project at Sada will be re-tendered, with works now expected to be launched by the end of next month.
Amonkar was speaking to reporters after the Republic Day celebrations at Sada, held in the presence of BJP State President Damu Naik and other party functionaries.
Amonkar said he has been closely following it up with the government since its inception.
“The hospital project was sanctioned, tendered, a contractor was appointed and even the work order had been issued. In fact, during the Liberation Day function, I had announced that the works would be launched much before Republic Day,” he said.
The MLA disclosed that an appointment had been fixed with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on January 20 to lay the foundation stone. However, fresh developments regarding the contractor prompted the government to reconsider.
“I have now been informed that the tender was awarded to a Delhi-based firm, as it quoted 12 per cent below the estimated cost,” Amonkar said.
He added that the same contractor had earlier been awarded two other projects in Goa, which have remained incomplete for nearly a decade, leading to the firm being blacklisted by the state government.
“If we proceed with the same contractor, we may lay the foundation stone, but there is no guarantee when the hospital will actually be completed. The contractor does not execute works directly and instead subcontracts them, which further delays projects,” he said.
In view of this, Amonkar said a decision has been taken to cancel the existing tender and go in for a fresh one.
“We have decided to cancel the tender and opt for re-tendering. The foundation stone for the hospital will now be laid by the end of February,” he said, adding that the delay would be limited to about a month.
Appealing to the public not to be misled by political narratives, Amonkar said, “People should not fall prey to any propaganda by the opposition. No matter what, this project will be taken forward and Sada will have a dedicated hospital. That is my commitment.”
The proposed hospital is expected to cater to residents of Sada and surrounding areas of the Mormugao constituency, addressing a long-pending demand for improved healthcare infrastructure in the region.
