2000-05

2000-05

One Mr PR Sen joined the co and introduced me to Gomuda of Malaysia and one DHV Consultants of The Netherlands. During this period we negotiated with LG for one IVB package on NH2 at Bihar and got 50% of the job and the other was with Punj. Ours was near Sasaram a dangerous place. Work started in full swing and we purchased the machinery on behalf of the company, and again was posted to site.DHV wanted to replace the Dy Team Leader of 3 packages, but the consent of the Team Leader was not available. This was due to an old maxim Old devil is better than a new one. I was offered a post next bellow viz Sr Qty Surveyor, which I reluctantly agreed and joined at Khallikote on Dec 01 and left after a couple of days and continued in my old job. Due to family pressure I again rejoined in Jan 02.

Job was interesting and new, but stay was costly in OTDC Panthanivas first at Rambha and then at Barkul. Every day I used to go for a walk on the banks of Chilika. There was a nexus between the contractor and the engineers, which I successfully broke. Because of low rates quoted and the broken nexus, the sub contractors abandoned the work. Even though the main contractors took over things were slow. My official life was not smooth due to above and travel to Bhubaneswar every weekend by my own car.

In Jan 03 an offer of Resident Manager came from Gomuda’s BOT project and posting place was at site on NH 2 with a good canteen for food and one room with a detached bath. I did work for 9 days and fixed up permanent accommodation at Durgapur in a 3 star hotel. The total expenses would be the same as at Khallikote and away from home.On the way to Delhi I came back and rejoined, with an assurance that I will be transferred to Khurda in OR VI, so that I can commute daily from Bhubaneswar. However a month later I went back to Gomuda on a promise of revising the pay packet, which did not materialize. After a couple of days I again left for good.

During the period mentioned I took a house on rent started cooking by a servant/driver at Balugaon, then tried in a Ashram behind our office and finally shifted to the PWD inspection bungalow at Sunakhela on NH 5. The same pattern of spending the weekend at Bhubanaeswar continued with another driver.

In March finally I was transferred to Khurda, and life became very steady and peaceful but uneventful. In absence of RE (in this package the Team Leader himself was RE, I was literally in charge.