MCDs declare ‘half-baked’ projects ready
It’s been 20 days since the multi-level car parking lot in Kalkaji was inaugurated by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation but it has no occupants.
The parking site is locked and there is no one to guard the complex. Interestingly, the project was delayed by nine years.
“The area around Krishna Market in Kalkaji is all cluttered and commercialised. It is difficult to find any space for parking of cars even on roadsides. We have been hearing from politicians about opening of parking space for the past nine years but the outcome is disappointing,” said Anil Gupta,generalsecretary,Kalkaji Vyapar Mandal.
Subhash Arya, leader of house, SDMC said that computers, staff, guard and other equipment for running the complex are yet to be installed by the concessionaire . “We are expecting that in the next 15-20 days things would be in place.”
This is not the only project inaugurated by the three MCDs in Delhi. Over the last five days, 25 similar projects and initiatives were launched by the three BJPruled civic bodies raising speculations that the party is looking at impressing voters before the April elections.
The other two civic bodies are not far behind. They are inaugurating incomplete projects. In most projects, around 20-30% work is pending. The mini stadium constructed over an acre of land in Kakrola for primary school students was inaugurated by Delhi State BJP president Manoj Tiwari on February 11. Though the construction work is complete, the education department of SDMC is yet to get staff and required equipment.
When HT visited the site on Sunday, labourers were putting up grills near the sitting area. “We started work few days ago. It will take at least one month to finish the job here,” a labourer said.
A science museum with a 3D theatre at the AD Municipal Primary School in Tagore Garden was inaugurated on February 20, at least three months ahead of completion. The civic body is yet to provide equipment and furniture. As per a senior official, SDMC needs ₹2.5 crore and three months to complete the project.
In North Corporation too, the surface parking lot near Karol Bagh Metro Station was inaugurated last month. The 4,281 sq m area, which used to house the office of North Corporation’s engineering department, was vacated. The civic body decided to run it as a surface parking lot and claimed to have created space for 300 cars. When HT visited the site, it was found in shambles. The debris of the dismantled building was lying around with no one to guard the place.
“Though parking is free here, people are reluctant to park their vehicles as anti-social elements gather here. They can damage the vehicles or steal parts of it,” said a person who claimed to be a security guard at the old building. He said the parking site has become a dumping ground for construction material.
Meanwhile, the opposition blamed the ruling BJP for inaugurating the projects in a hurry. “The BJP is misleading people by inaugurating such incomplete projects. They want to show them as achievements in their election manifesto and win people support but they can’t fool them anymore,” said Mukesh Goel, leader of opposition North Corporation.