During the meeting, concerns were raised over the Public Works Department’s (PWD) alleged negligence, and the prolonged delays in the project.
Photo: SNS
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday reviewed the under-construction Barapullah Elevated Road, Phase-III project, and directed that the alleged irregularities in the same, and the payment of Rs 175 crore to the contractor be probed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).
During the meeting, concerns were raised over the Public Works Department’s (PWD) alleged negligence, and the prolonged delays in the project.
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Gupta has instructed senior officials to ensure its timely completion, noting that the payment was necessitated because the previous government had prevented the company from executing the work.
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The elevated road will run from Barapullah Nallah to Mayur Vihar Phase-III, via Sarai Kale Khan.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, and senior departmental officials were present at the high-level meeting, where the officials informed the CM that the project would gain pace as permissions for tree removal along the route were expected shortly.
Gupta stressed that no further delays would be tolerated and assured adequate budgetary support to complete the project.
The said project is expected to significantly ease traffic between South and East Delhi.
Gupta called the project “yet another example of corruption and negligence under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.”
According to CM, the project, scheduled for completion in October 2017, was repeatedly delayed and eventually went into arbitration.
The ruling favored the contractor with an award of Rs 120 crore, and when the payment was withheld, the company approached the High Court, which in May 2023 ordered the PWD to pay Rs 175 crore, including interest and GST, which was paid during the previous government’s tenure.
Gupta criticised the AAP government for neither filing a review petition nor acting against the responsible officers, adding that the payout hampered other PWD schemes.
She also disclosed that the contractor had initially offered to settle the dispute for Rs 35 crore, but the proposal was ignored, resulting in the escalation of the matter to the High Court.
Gupta has noted the possibility of PWD officials being complicit in the alleged irregularities, and confirmed that their actions would also be scrutinized under the vigilance inquiry.
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