The Indian Express 14.08.2013
CP restoration will be completed by September, says new NDMC chief
Jalaj Srivastava said one of the first tasks as chief of the municipal
body would be to complete the redevelopment of Connaught Place, a
project which has missed several deadlines now, by September.
“The project has caused a lot of inconvenience to the public. I
have asked Engineers India Limited (EIL), the firm which has been
outsourced the project, to finish it on a time-bound manner. Not a
single extra day will be given to them over and above the time fixed for
completion of work. I can assure you that the work will be completed
within September,” Srivastava said.
The chairman said a miscommunication between Engineers India
Limited and Council’s officials had led to the delay in finishing the
project.
Srivastava said the Connaught Place redevelopment project was a
“huge visible reminder” of the tasks that needed to be completed soon.
It is learnt that the Chairman has directed all senior NDMC
officials to take a detour on their way to office every day and visit
Connaught Place to ensure that the work is progressing as planned.
“Connaught Place is just next to our office and it does not hurt
if we take a detour and then come to office. I too have started taking
tours of CP to assess the work,” Srivastava said. The Chairman has
already inspected the work along with EIL and NDMC officials.
“There were tasks which EIL officials claimed would be done in 15
days. Our officials gave the firm three days’ time to finish the same
task and EIL has agreed to complete it within the stipulated time,”
Srivastava said.
Srivastava said he will have weekly meetings with EIL officials
and other stakeholders to take stock of the work completed and what
remained to be done.
The CP restoration project was conceived in April 2004, but the final
approval from Delhi Urban Art Commission came only in November 2008.
The continuous delays and poor contract management has caused the
project cost to go up from Rs 76 crore in 2005 to
Rs 671 crore in 2007.
In June 2012, the cost estimate was revised to Rs 477 crore. The
scope of work was also reduced by junking the four proposed subways at
Yusufzai Market, Estate Entry Road, Chelmsford Road and P Block, SBS
Marg.
The project was to be completed before October 2010. The deadline
was then pushed to 2011 which was further extended to March 2012 and
then to December 2012.
In 2013, NDMC chairperson said the work will be finished by
March. In April, separate deadlines were set for various tasks after a
visit by the chief secretary.
Other works on Srivastava’s priority list are drainage,
electricity connections and a proper sewage system in Central Delhi to
avoid water-logging in the area.
