PWD officers directed to stop using private labs for testing-Singla
Patiala- “Instructions have been issued to all the Chief Engineers / Superintending Engineers to issue directions to the field staff that all kinds of test presently got conducted from other private laboratories / institutions should be got conducted only from Research Lab., Patiala which will save the huge amount being paid to private laboratories. Moreover revenue of the Department will increase by conducting all kind of tests for the PWD (B&R) Department as well as for the other Departments through Research Lab., Patiala”, said Vijay Inder Singla, PWD Minister Punjab
He further informed that Punjab Public Works Department is upgrading its Quality Control Mechanism by an approximate investment of Rs. 7 crores. State of the art equipment is being incorporated to ensure quality infrastructure in Punjab.
An extensive range of tests for the building materials right from the pre-construction phase till post-construction are required to measure the conformance of construction to the project specification. Keeping up with the changing technology and the newer materials the up-gradation of the Quality Control Mechanism at Research Laboratory, Patiala has been taken up.
(Photo courtesy-Internet)
In the first phase, an approval has been given to purchase the latest quality control equipments with a total financial outlay of Rs. 2.82 crores, said he and added that a Mobile Testing Van would also be set up to facilitate testing in the field (on site). The process for purchase of these equipments has already begun, some equipments have been received and more are on the way. Well equipped Mobile Testing VAN with the latest testing equipments will be functional from September, 2018, said he.
Falling Weight Deflectometer for Structural Evaluation and Strengthening of Flexible Road Pavements, Retro Reflectometer for Road Markings and Signage, Nuclear Density Gauge etc. would now be available in the lab. With the up gradation of the laboratory 13 additional tests will be conducted along with the 34 different tests already being conducted.
Additional staff is also being deputed for imparting training to the field staff regarding these latest equipment and carrying out the tests in field and laboratory. Three officers have already been deputed to get training at Mumbai to operate/ handle these latest equipments and other safety aspects of Nuclear Guages.
In the second phase an additional amount of Rs. 4.00 crores is proposed to be spent in strengthening Quality Control infrastructure with latest international standards testing equipments to ensure strict and regular testing of all infrastructure works being carried out in the State of Punjab.
It is pertinent to mention that PWD(B&R) Research Laboratory at Patiala is working as only approved departmental testing laboratory in the State of Punjab. In addition to checking / testing of departmental samples, the laboratory also deals with the testing of samples received from various Engineering Departments like Irrigation, PUDA, Panchayti Raj, Punjab Health system Corporation, P.S.I.D.C, Vigilance etc. for quality check, at a nominal fee.
