Calcutta, March 3: The government is in a fix on how to get work on the Subarnarekha bridge started without exposing that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had jumped the gun when she declared at a public meeting on January 12 that tenders had already been floated.

The Planning Commission’s nod for the project, however, came on February 22. Now that Rs 171 crore has been approved for the 1km-long bridge from Bharsaghat in Keshiari to Nayagram, the government is unsure because if a tender is floated, it could “embarrass” the government.

The issue was “discussed at length” today at a meeting chief secretary Samar Ghosh, who was called to the dais and asked by Mamata to “confirm” her statement, chaired at Writers’ to take stock of development projects in Jungle Mahal.

A senior official who attended the meeting told The Telegraph: “The detailed project report (DPR) for the bridge was approved by the Planning Commission on February 22. But during her visit to Jungle Mahal on January 12, the chief minister had already announced that the tenders had been floated.

“She had called the chief secretary to the dais and asked him to confirm this. The chief secretary was virtually forced to say the tenders had been floated before he could even crosscheck.”

The official said the state public works department was “ready” to start the project but “does not know how an agency can now be engaged to build the bridge”.

“If the department floats a tender, it will be embarrassing for the chief minister and the chief secretary as they had announced that the process had begun. The department may look for an alternative way out to save the government’s face,” he said.

According to the official, the PWD officials hinted at today’s meeting that they “could engage a government company”. “If such a company is given the job, the process of floating tenders can be avoided,” he added.

Government sources said Mackintosh Burn Ltd was the only government company in Bengal that had the expertise required to construct the bridge. “The department can award the project to Mackintosh Burn without inviting tenders. But for this, the department will require the cabinet’s approval,” the official said.

He said the first instalment of the approved money was expected to reach the state in March.

“A sum of Rs 104 crore has been approved for construction work. The remaining amount has been approved for acquiring land and construction of guard walls and approach roads,” the official added.

Agriculture secretary Hriyadesh Mohan, who communicates with other departments regarding development projects in Jungle Mahal, said: “PWD officials said work on the bridge would be started soon. The bridge will reduce the distance between Keshiari and Nayagram by 69km.”

At the meeting, all departments were asked to expedite work on development projects in the Maoist-affected area.