As part of efforts to speed up work of the Rs 5,460-crore Assam gas cracker project for its timely execution, the manpower strength at the site has been raised to 7,000.

The total number of employees was raised following a decision taken at a recent meeting of the stakeholders and the companies involved in construction work.

At present, 90 executives are on the role of the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) which is executing the project. Out of these, 64 per cent are from the northeast.

The cumulative progress of work at the site is running behind the scheduled target for which the authorities concerned have also adopted some other measures to speed up work.

According to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), the chief operating officer and the chief finance officer of the project have been deputed.

Orders have been places for tertiary compressor, power feed weighing unit, pressure vessel and compressor reciprocal.

Bids have been received for wash water collecting tank system and Railway siding composite works, which are currently under evaluation.