The Hindu         05.11.2014   

Municipal corporation yet to clear bill for Civic Centre

Over three years after moving into its new headquarters, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation is yet to clear bills for constructing the sprawling Civic Centre complex.

Civic Centre on Minto Road is owned and run by the North Corporation and houses the offices of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation as well as the Income Tax Department. Offices of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi started moving to the new building in November 2010 from the historic Town Hall in Chandni Chowk. In 2011, when all offices had moved to the complex, an additional Rs.24.36 crore as charges for facility management was added to the project’s cost.

The initial cost of the project was supposed to be Rs.410.56 crore as approved by the MCD in 2005. Later, the Standing Committee approved a revised cost of Rs.643.45 crore. But, expenditure went up to Rs.686.88 crore as certain costs, including for an auditorium, an extended basement and shifting of an electric sub-station, were added to the plan later.

Now, the Engineering Department of the North Corporation is seeking permission to pay contractors the remaining amount of Rs.43.43 crore.

The proposal is listed under “urgent business” before the Standing Committee, which will meet on Wednesday. An additional Rs.67 crore as escalation in costs has also been mentioned in the proposal. Standing Committee chairman Mohan Bhardwaj said: “As far as we are concerned, we have cleared all the dues. We don’t know how the contractors are claiming escalation in the cost.”

However, Corporation officials said the civic body did owe contractors for construction, furniture, facility management and consultants for architecture and project management.