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Municipal Finance

NDMC spends R222 crore on consultancy for Games

Thursday, 02 September 2010 11:01 administrator
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Hindustan Times  02.09.2010

NDMC spends R222 crore on consultancy for Games

In its first public disclosure under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has said it paid over R 200 crore to consultants for Commonwealth Games 2010-related work since 2006. The Central Information Commission (CIC) had asked all government bodies to disclose information regarding works undertaken for the Games on its website.

The NDMC was given a deadline till August-end, whereas the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi government have a Sep-end deadline.

CIC Shailesh Gandhi had said the commission would ensure transparency in executing of works related to the Games. The NDMC is the first civic body to make such a disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act.

Information available on the council's website shows it paid over R 200 crore as consultancy fees for providing services for execution and supervision of 45 projects in the NDMC area, since 2005. Some of these projects are as yet incomplete.

Information on the website shows that the council had paid several crores of rupees for projects, which have crossed their deadline. For multi-level parking facilities at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Baba Kharag Singh Marg and Sarojini Nagar, the NDMC has already paid consultants over R 3.6 crore.

The council has already paid R 1.09 crore to private consultants for monitoring construction of a new block and a basement at Shivaji (hockey) Stadium, which will not be ready for the Games. The consultant had got work for two stadiums, of which the Talkatora Stadium, where swimming events will be held, is complete.

One of the heaviest payments made to consultants was for 're-development of Connaught Place'. The council has paid R 14.85 crore to a Government of India undertaking — Engineers India Ltd — for the project between May 2008 and December 2010.

The NDMC declared Connaught Place will not be ready to receive foreign tourists expected for the Games. "Whatever the delay, the NDMC has been prompt in disclosing the information, which is mandatory under the RTI Act," said a CIC official.

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 September 2010 11:03
 

NDMC allotted 220 crore for Games consultancy

Thursday, 02 September 2010 10:08 administrator
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The Hindu  02.09.2010

NDMC allotted 220 crore for Games consultancy

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council has allotted nearly Rs.220 crore in fees to consultants engaged for implementation of the Commonwealth Games-related projects and development works in the Capital during the past five years.

The details of the projects have been posted on the NDMC website following a direction from the Central Information Commission.

Among the major projects allocated include a consultation fee of Rs.48 crore to Engineers India Limited for redevelopment of Connaught Place and Rs.23.02 crore to Five-M Energy for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning and fire safety works during upgradation and remodelling of Palika Bazaar.

Engineers India Limited has so far been paid Rs.14.85 crore for the project allotted in May 2008 and ending on December 31, 2010. The Palika Bazaar remodelling project was allotted in January 2009 and is valid for three years.

Two other projects where multi-crore amount have been allotted are development of the park-and-ride facility at Safdarjung airport for Rs.27.1 crore and installation of road signages for Rs.10.3 crore. The park-and-ride facility at Safdarjung airport includes Rs.23 crore fee to Design Action Group for “designing work” on the project. It also allocated Rs.4.17 crore to Delhi College of Engineering for doing third party quality assurance on the utilities (civil and electrical work) at the facility.

The NDMC also allocated Rs.7.09 crore to the Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transport System for design and construction of foot over-bridges, pedestrian subways and under-passes.

A number of consultants were also allotted works relating to street-scaping and the upgradation of the Shivaji Stadium and Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 September 2010 10:10
 

Come clean on city’s finances

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 07:49 administrator
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The Deccan Chronicle  31.08.2010

Come clean on city’s finances

This budget is all fiction. BBMP will not be able to generate the planned revenue and so will not be able to spend on the projects listed. Property tax receipts have been over-estimated by over 50 per cent and many of the state grants are not likely to materialise. But it will still have to deal with fixed administrative expenditure and loan repayments, which will reduce the money available for the many projects announced.

One cannot understand the fascination with tunnels. The BDA had some years ago released an artist’s sketch of a tunnel road from its office to Hebbal, but it never got past the drawing board.

Steel flyovers have also been announced in the past. May be the next time they will announce stainless steel flyovers to stop them from rusting. One wishes BBMP had presented a realistic Budget.

This would have helped it gain the people’s trust. It needs to come out with a white paper on its finances and give Bengalurean’s the real picture.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 07:51
 
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