Kathmandu, April 30

With an aim to raise the quality of construction works and ensure that the construction of various infrastructure projects is completed on schedule, the government has started collecting data of various contractors and initiated the process to develop a new system called the Contract Management System (CMS) to govern the contractors.

According to Shiva Hari Sapkota, spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), the ministry has started collecting data on the number of contractors across the country, the number of projects they are involved in and also the status of the respective projects.

The ministry has already mobilised concerned authorities for the data collection.

“After updating the system, we will be able to get all necessary details of the contractors including the number of contracts they are handling and their performance overview, among others. If we need to take immediate action or assign any other works to them, the system will automatically notify them as per our demand,” Sapkota informed.

The ministry has said that the system is being developed to address the recurring problems related to contractors, including how they tend to delay construction works after winning the bid and the difficulty in monitoring them.

“We have almost finished making necessary changes in the procurement guidelines too to bring about positive changes in the entire sector,”

Sapkota said, adding that the government has already initiated the process to amend the Public Procurement Act.

As per the ministry, it aims to make contractors largely responsible for timely completion of the projects handed over to them. The contractor will be liable to update their progress through the system, along with proof of the work done by uploading photos and videos. “In case any contractor is falling behind schedule, the CMS will notify both the concerned contractor as well as the line ministry,” informed Sapkota, adding that the system will make it easier for the government authorities to keep tabs on contractors.

Moreover, stating that anomalies in infrastructure development have proliferated in collusion with government officials, especially concerned project officials, he stated that the government is also mulling over ways to hold the officials responsible for any shortcomings as well.

Sapkota further said that if any contractor is involved in irregularities, the concerned authority may impose a fine on the errant contractors and even terminate the contract if they continue to struggle to meet the set deadlines.

According to the ministry, the CMS will include Bridge Site Management System (BMS), Quality Monitoring System (QMS), Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) and Smart Licence Printing (SLP) and Distribution System.

The government is planning to launch the CMS by the ongoing fiscal year or the very first month of the next fiscal.