NEW
DELHI: Connaught Place’s ‘redevelopment’ pangs continue. The New Delhi
civic body has not only sought yet another extension for the
long-delayed work, it has also decided to scrap the construction of two
subways in G and H blocks — after spending more than Rs 3.2 crore on the
projects.

The CP redevelopment project’s consultant, Engineers India Limited,
had dug up the sites almost two years ago. But work couldn’t start
following pressure from the New Delhi Traders’ association who opposed
the subways, planned on Outer Circle near Panchkuian Road, claiming
these would get poor footfalls and would mainly be used by anti-social
elements.

“The site has become a dump yard. Following opposition from traders, we decided to scrap the project. Also, UTTIPEC
(nodal agency for road planning) has said no new subways should be
planned. The civic agency has spent close to Rs 3.2 crore on digging the
sites,” said a senior New Delhi Municipal Corporation official.

He said Rs 1.5 crore was spent on digging at the G block site and Rs 1.72 at H block.

However, NDMC
will not fill up the dug portions. It plans to utilize the sites for
some “profitable purpose”, although there is no plan at the moment on
how this would be achieved.

The proposal to stop the project
will be placed in the council’s meeting on Thursday. The agency has also
sought an extension for the overall CP redevelopment project till June
30, 2013.

The CP redevelopment project has had many hurdles.
While the project was to be completed before the Commonwealth Games in
2010, the civic agency has been just extending the deadline. Last year,
after TOI published a series of reports highlighting the mess at
Connaught Place due to the redevelopment project, chief minister Sheila
Dikshit had held a review meeting.

Dikshit had directed the
chief secretary and NDMC chairperson to take up the matter with the
petroleum ministry, as EIL is a public sector undertaking under the
ministry. The December 31, 2012 deadline was revised to March 31, 2013
during NDMC’s budget for 2013-14. Now, the civic agency has further
extended the deadline.

“They are not able to get work done from
EIL. The Connaught Place redevelopment project was not planned
properly. Why was the consultant allowed to go ahead with the first
phase of subway construction? The civic agency has wasted public money
and now they are trying to justify it by suggesting that the dug up
sites will be used for profitable purpose. The agency should impose a
penalty on the consultant for the delay,” said Karan Singh Tanwar, BJP
MLA and member of NDMC.

Meanwhile, EIL officials claim that a
majority of the work is over and that they are in the process of placing
cables underground. “We need time to take the cables underground,
install the new equipment and make it operational before it is handed
over to NDMC. The work is likely to be over by March 31, but we need
time to test the facility,” a senior official said.