Work on embassy at a snail’s pace

Manama : Work on the BD2.8-million Indian Embassy building at Seef is moving at a snail’s pace due to technical issues and frequent change of workmen, sources close to the project said. 

Construction of the 8300-Sq meters chancery building, which was originally scheduled to be completed by mid 2015, began in February 2014. 

The new building is designed to depict a blend of traditional and modern architecture keeping in view the history and diversity of India. The building will have stone cladding and marbles from India to be installed on the front elevations.

According to the local consultant of the project, the frequent change of the project personnel by the contractor is one of the major reasons for the inordinate delay. 

“We are finding it difficult to educate every personnel on the project specifications, documentation, material requirements and information that are being discussed with the previous personnel. This is creating delays in all aspects of the project due to insufficient information passed on to the new personnel,” the local consultant for the building said in a letter addressed to the contractor.

The consultant also stated that the project would be further delayed as vital information is not passed on to the new project personnel.

Technical issues 

“Some of the anchor bolts used for the stone cladding works is not as per the company specifications,” the local consultant said in another letter to the contracting company on August 31, 2016.

The consultant has demanded delivery notes for the bolts used in the building to avoid allegations of malpractice and controversy later. The contractor was also asked to provide an undertaking guaranteeing the authenticity of the materials used.

When DT News tried to contact embassy officials, there was no response. The contracting company also refused to respond.

Former Indian Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid, accompanied by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa laid the foundation stone for the building in 2014.