Lucknow, June 7 -- The UP government has revised its standard operating procedures (SOPs) for urban local body construction and development works to improve the quality and accountability of public infrastructure projects. The amended SOPs introduces strict cost recovery measures from engineers and contractors responsible for substandard construction, signalling a major policy shift toward accountability and transparency. As per the updated guidelines, if construction work is found to be of poor quality or overpayments are made, the financial loss to the state will be recovered 50% from the contractor of the project and 50% from the officials responsible, broken down as: 35% from junior engineers, 10% from assistant engineers, 5% from executive engineers, 30% from executive officers and 20% from other stakeholders, if applicable. This overhaul follows concerns over poor-quality infrastructure in urban areas and widespread reports of repeat repairs on the same roads - a strong signal that poor execution and financial mismanagement will no longer be tolerated. Principal secretary, urban development, Amrit Abhijat said the recovery will be enforced under land revenue provisions through the DM, especially in cases where voluntary repayment is not forthcoming. Integration of GIS mapping is recommended for better monitoring. htc...