LUCKNOW: The planning department of the state has come up with a standard operating procedure (SOP) to be incorporated by all the govt departments and agencies undertaking projects worth over Rs 50 crore under the EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) mode.
EPC projects are expected to have an increased shelf life.
Independent auditors and civil engineers with expertise in examining the structural durability of raw materials and the structure of a building will be deputed to evaluate the quality of a project.
While finalising the detailed project report of a project, the concerned department must make a provision to add 0.5% of the sanctioned budget (excluding taxes), which is going to be paid to the third-party audit companies.
Officials said that a review by an independent agency from the initial stages of the project would help in achieving better results, and the procedure would also help in bringing down the overall maintenance cost in the long run.
A comprehensive technical audit would take place on a quarterly basis or during crucial phases of construction, such as plinth preparation and slab casting, among others. The departments have been asked to rope in civil engineering experts from govt institutes in the region or explore other options.
Principal secretary of the planning department, Alok Kumar, has forwarded the guidelines prepared by the building cell of the public works department in March 2023 for more clarity.
As public works department has been roping in third-party auditors for its projects, department heads have been asked to evaluate the progress of the projects at the plinth levels, slab casting, intermediate stage, and finishing jobs.
“Once the project is in the final stages of completion, it is important to find out whether the drainage system, rainwater harvesting, waterproofing on the roof and external walls, firefighting equipment, and cabling have been done as per the terms mentioned in the contract,” said an officer.
