Shunglu report on city infrastructure referred to home ministry
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The Prime Minister's office has referred the Shunglu Committee findings on alleged irregularities in executing various infrastructure projects related to Commonwealth Games by Delhi government to the home ministry for further action.
Sources said the PMO has asked home ministry to send its reply on the queries raised by the Shunglu panel in works done by the city government controlled departments.
In its third report on projects to upgrade city infrastructure, especially related to road and transport, the Committee has noted there was no special preparation by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and blamed Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit for her decisions that led to cost escalation in CWG related projects.
"All projects require a host of preparatory actions before the start of the project on ground. These actions have to be initiated well in advance as they take considerably long time. The work should have started during the year 2005-06," the report said.
The report said that there was "no special preparation by GNCTD despite constrained time frame". It said that unfair cost advantage was given to contractors due to compressed time frame and noted indication of "collusive bidding" by tenders floated by Public Works Department (PWD).
According to a conservative estimate by the panel, works worth over Rs 5,500 crores were carried out GNCTD, a majority of which — about 75 per cent — were executed by PWD.
The major projects handled by PWD, apart from three Games & Training venues (Thyagaraj, Chhatrasal and Ludlow Castle), included Barapullah elevated corridor, Ring Road Bypass, UP Link Road, Streetscaping, Street Lighting, Signage and 21 flyovers.
While Munak lined drain was the main project handled by Delhi Jal Board, the Delhi transport corporation, besides acquiring buses, had constructed wight bus depots and Bus Q shelters across the national capital.
The high level Committee has held the Delhi chief minister responsible for delay in the projects which resulted in high cost.
"Detailed examination of the projects undertaken by the GNCTD, New Delhi Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation of Delhi show that for certain 'city image' improvement projects (streetlighting, streetscaping, signage), NDMC and MCD acted as adjuncts of the GNCTD rather than as independent entities.
"The chief minister took personal interest in the planning and execution of these projects. While full credit must be given to the CM for the leadership provided, she also carries the responsibility for the decisions taken including those relating to 'city image' improvement projects which cost the city dear," it said.
The 235-page report was submitted to PMO on March 18.
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