Ram Van Gaman Marg Flaws: CM Yogi Suspends PWD Executive Engineer, Initiates Probe Against SE and Chief Engineer
The Uttar Pradesh government has enforced zero-tolerance administrative accountability following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's strong displeasure over structural damage and construction irregularities along the sacred Ram Van Gaman Marg connecting Ayodhya to Chitrakoot. Reacting swiftly to reports of premature fissures and rain-induced erosion, the state administration ordered the immediate suspension of Public Works Department (PWD) Executive Engineer (XEN) Ravindra Pal Singh in Prayagraj while initiating formal disciplinary inquiries against Superintending Engineer (SE) Omkar Bhartiya and Chief Engineer Pawan Verma under Rule 7 of the state regulations.
Inspection Exposes Pavement Cracks and Slope Erosion on Greenfield Highway 731A
The disciplinary crackdown follows on-site technical verifications conducted along Greenfield National Highway No. 731A, specifically covering Ram Van Gaman Marg Package 2. Independent inspection teams uncovered extensive structural deficiencies along the stretch between kilometer markers 35 and 49.15, running from Autarpur to Singraur Uparhar. Severe fissures were detected across a 1.5-kilometer span of newly paved surface, while slope protections and retaining structures suffered structural collapses along roughly 500 meters. Holding field supervisors directly culpable for systemic negligence and compromised monitoring standards, administrative authorities held the designated Executive Engineer and Superintending Engineer responsible for failing to exercise proper quality control.
Executive Engineer Ravindra Pal Singh Suspended, SE Omkar Bhartiya Faces Disciplinary Probe
Formal suspension directives against Executive Engineer Ravindra Pal Singh were issued by Special Secretary Divya Prakash Giri, ordering his immediate attachment to the office of the Chief Engineer (Development) and Head of Department at PWD headquarters in Lucknow. Concurrently, Superintending Engineer Omkar Bhartiya was indicted for supervisory failure, prompting the state administration to initiate formal departmental inquiry procedures under Rule 7, with the Chief Engineer of Varanasi officially designated as the inquiry officer. Show-cause notices and debarment proceedings have also been expedited against the third-party contracting firm responsible for laying the substandard roadway.
Chief Engineer Pawan Verma Under Scrutiny for Bareboat Chartering Irregularities
In a parallel accountability drive within the engineering cadre, troubles mounted for PWD Chief Engineer Pawan Verma following the abrupt cancellation of his deputation to the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). State officials initiated comprehensive disciplinary proceedings against Verma under Rule 7 concerning severe financial irregularities committed during his prior tenure as Chief Engineer (Traffic) at the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Departmental records indicate that during his central deputation, an outsourced firm executing a bareboat chartering contract issued a high-value post-dated cheque that subsequently bounced. Administrative inquiries determined that Verma failed to initiate timely legal or procedural recovery action, prompting the state government to draft a formal charge sheet demanding explanations for the severe financial oversight.
