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Metro delays: Exchequer drained of Rs 27,500 cr

Thursday, 31 December 2009 07:49 administrator
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Hindustan Times 31.12.2009

Metro delays: Exchequer drained of Rs 27,500 cr

If the city’s Metro systems had been built within their scheduled time, the state exchequer would have saved Rs 27,500 crore.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is overseeing construction of the Metro, had first estimated the 146-km Metro to cost Rs 19,525 crore.

That estimate was made in January 2004, with the MMRDA planning to start work by December 2005. Three of its planned nine lines were to be completed by 2011, but a string of delays have now sent the project cost spiralling out to Rs 47,092 crore.

The Rs 47,092 crore figure was part of a recent presentation made by MMRDA to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Most of the work on the project is on a Public Private Partnership, but the increased cost means the government will have to invest more than it would have, had its construction followed schedule.

The cost of the Metro’s first line, running between Versova, Andheri and Ghatkopar, was expected to be Rs 970 crore —the estimate was made presuming that work would start by December 2005. It eventually began only in February 2008, by which time the cost had risen to Rs 2,356 crore.

The Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd line, originally scheduled to cost Rs 6,192 crore, is pegged at Rs 11,000 crore and work on the line has not even started.

“The rise in cost is basically due to unavoidable delays that affected the project. Economic conditions have changed and this has led to the higher cost,” MMRDA Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said.

Last Updated on Thursday, 31 December 2009 07:52
 

BDA projects in BBMP limits to be over by April

Thursday, 31 December 2009 07:41 administrator
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The New Indian Express 31.12.2009

BDA projects in BBMP limits to be over by April

Express News Service


BANGALORE: Most of the 1,330 works undertaken by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in the BBMP areas are nearing completion, and all the works would be completed by April, 2010, according to authorities. Around 733 works have already been done.

A BDA official said, “Many works have been physically completed but the final payments have been pending, as the project management consultants have not given their clearance.” The works include asphalting, laying concrete roads, laying of footpaths, construction of culverts and medians. These works are spread across Dasarahalli, Yeshwanthpur, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Anekal, Mahadevapura, Bommanahally, Hebbal, Yelahanka, Byatarayanpura, Bangalore South, Padmanabhanagar and KR Puram constituencies. Of the 17 flyovers planned at the Outer Ring Road, four have been built and two flyovers at Iblur and Agara junctions are under construction.

Last Updated on Thursday, 31 December 2009 07:43
 

Urban mission funds for UP is unutilised: civic bodies

Tuesday, 29 December 2009 11:37 administrator
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The Financial Express 29.12.2009

Urban mission funds for UP is unutilised: civic bodies

New Delhi: Municipal corporations of Uttar Pradesh have no access to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds.

For cities like Allahabad, Varanasi and Agra detailed project reports (DPR) have gone from the urban local bodies (ULB). But when the central funding for JNNURM comes, the Uttar Pradesh government transfers it to Jal Nigam, which is an autonomous body of the state through which it executes these projects.

Currently, projects worth Rs 600 crore is being executed in Allahabad, Rs 900 crore is being executed in Varanasi and Rs 2,500 crore executed in Agra but nowhere is the urban local body executing the projects.

“The state government is transferring the funds for JNNURM to UP Jal Nigam, which also executes the projects. The state is also not interested in enforcing the 74th amendment which will empower the urban local bodies,” Jitendr Nath Singh, mayor, Allahabad, said.

Mayor of Varanasi Kaushalendra Singh complained that most of the funds for this city are lying unutilised. “Funds have been sanctioned for solid waste management (Rs 46 crore), storm water drainage (Rs 181 crore) and three water supply projects (Rs 200 crore, Rs 80 crore and Rs 111 crore). None of these projects have taken off except the last water supply project,” Singh said.

Singh goes on to say that neither the Uttar Pradesh chief minister nor the urban development minister have paid any heed to the complaints. “We do not even get any financial aid from the state government to provide basic utility services to the city like keeping the city clean,” Singh said.

Anjula Singh, mayor Agra complained that there is a huge communication gap between the urban local bodies and the Centre and the state. “State government releases the money directly to Jal Nigam for JNNURM and this organisation also charges 12.5% for executing the projects,” Anjula Singh said.

Jaipal Reddy, minister urban development said, “We are in talks with the Uttar Pradesh government and trying to resolve the issue.” This northern state has recently started absorbing JNNURM funds and yet to pick up.

Officials in the ministry also point out that the urban local bodies are not able to pay their share of funds most of the time and as a result the state contributes the share of both the state and the municipal corporation.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 December 2009 11:42
 
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