The contractor at the center of the storm has been identified as Sanjib Kumar Ray, a prominent Class-I government contractor who also holds a leadership position in the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU). According to official department records, Ray was awarded contracts for three critical road-paving projects under the 2023–24 financial year allocation. However, despite the passage of two years, local residents complain that not a single project has reached completion, causing immense hardship to commuter traffic and sparking widespread public outrage across rural villages.
Faced with growing public anger, the contractor recently organized a press conference at the AKRSU office premises, Bongaigaon. In a clear bid to shift blame, Ray attempted to project himself as entirely blameless, passing the entire responsibility for the project delays onto the PWD authorities. Conversely, PWD insiders have vehemently countered his narrative, revealing a pattern of chronic non-compliance and negligence on the part of the contractor.
Project Breakdown & Financial Metrics
Official data accessed from the PWD indicates that a cumulative budget of ₹2,62,57,000 was originally estimated for the three construction works. Following a competitive bidding process, Sanjib Kumar Ray secured the contract for a consolidated tender value of ₹2,59,97,000.
Project 1: Paving of the road from North Salmara National Highway to Khagarpur Forest Beat office
Sanctioned Budget: ₹93,20,000
Project 2: Paving of the road from Malipara to Pakrirtal
Sanctioned Budget: ₹75,07,000
Project 3: Paving and construction of the road from Khagarpur Chalantapara Signature road to Ghilaguri Second Part Duramari village
Sanctioned Budget: ₹94,30,000
Departmental records confirm that the contractor subsequently submitted an intermediate progress bill amounting to ₹91,22,703, against which the PWD has already released a substantial payment of ₹61,55,355.
Sanctioned Budget: ₹93,20,000
Project 2: Paving of the road from Malipara to Pakrirtal
Sanctioned Budget: ₹75,07,000
Project 3: Paving and construction of the road from Khagarpur Chalantapara Signature road to Ghilaguri Second Part Duramari village
Sanctioned Budget: ₹94,30,000
Departmental records confirm that the contractor subsequently submitted an intermediate progress bill amounting to ₹91,22,703, against which the PWD has already released a substantial payment of ₹61,55,355.
Chronic Delays and Administrative Inaction
Despite pocketing over ₹61 lakh from public funds, Ray's performance on the ground has been near non-existent. Frustrated by the absolute lack of progress, the PWD has reportedly issued as many as nine official show-cause notices to the contractor over the past year, demanding immediate acceleration of the work and accountability for the delay. Shockingly, the contractor has treated these official warnings with utter disdain, responding to only a single notice on May 7, where he cursorily promised to finish the work within a few months. He has completely ignored the remaining eight notices.The contractor’s defiant posture has raised serious questions among the general public regarding the institutional integrity of the PWD. Locals are openly questioning why the department has failed to initiate strict punitive measures, such as blacklisting the firm or canceling his Class-I license, despite nine consecutive failures to comply with official directives. This continued tolerance has fueled strong suspicions of an unholy nexus and administrative favoritism between top department officials and the contractor-cum-student leader.
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