Kerala orders Vigilance inquiry into KSTP Project

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 25 (UNI) The Kerala Government today ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the contract on the World Bank-aided Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) in the state.

The government ordered a detailed inquiry into the all aspects and dealings related to the contract, official sources said.

Following widespread allegations that corruption was rampant in awarding the KSTP contract, the Cabinet had deputed a sub-committee with the Public Works, Revenue, Finance and Law Ministers as members, to examine the project.

The decision for ordering the Vigilance inquiry was based on the sub-committee's findings that widespread irregularities had taken place in the project.

The project envisaged the upgradation of 584 km of road and maintenance of 1,143 km road stretch covering state highways and major district roads.

Of the total project cost of Rs 1,632 crore, the state's share was Rs 388 crore.

However, Malaysian firm Pati, the contractor of the project, had alleged the delay in acquiring land by the the government had become a hurdle to the timely completion of project.

Chief Project Manager Lee Been Seen allegedly committed suicide at Kuala Lumpur, unable to stomach the pressures from various quarters when the project work failed to proceed.

The project came to a standstill three months back. The suicide of Seen had sparked a fresh row between the contractors and state government over non-disbursal of funds.

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