CP makeover: Auditor criticises slow pace of project, raises safety concerns
The ambitious redevelopment of Connaught Place has been criticised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) over the failure to complete the project. It also raised concerns over the structural safety and chaotic traffic and pedestrian movement in the 84-year-old market.
The redevelopment project touted to be a showcase for the 2010 Commonwealth Games failed to achieve its key objective of restoring the architectural and heritage character of CP, the report said.
With more and more structures collapsing in this iconic hub that dates to 1929, the CAG rapped the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for not including any survey on structural stability of the buildings. Even the improvement of firefighting capabilities done at a cost of ₹4.97 crore could not be assured, the report said.
“Even after a delay of over four years, restoration of the façade was completed only in the outer and inner circles while study to ascertain the structural stability of the buildings was not carried out,” it said.
CAG said the facilities such as subways, escalators, underground parking space and improvement of landscaping and lighting to ease traffic and pedestrian movement and improve visitors’ experience were not completed.
Though the project was conceptualised in February 2005, it is yet to be declared complete and accounts were yet to be closed (as on March 2016).
The scope of the project as envisaged in the project report was reduced from ₹615.20 crore to ₹477.02 crore.
On the service tunnel, concessionarie Engineers India Limited (EIL) incurred ₹180.48 crore on its construction as of May 2015 and ₹12.47 crore on other items needed to make the tunnel operational, which was not included in the cost approved by NDMC.
“Thus, as against an allocation of ₹71.21 crore and contractual cost of ₹157.85 crore, EIL incurred ₹192.95 crore on the service tunnel, due to change in technology and execution of unapproved items. Neither prior nor ex-postfacto approval of the council was sought for the revised estimate and change in technology despite the huge increase in cost of 171%,” the report stated.