Delhi govt orders ACB probe into another CWG project

New Delhi, Feb 7: Pointing at yet another purported scam under the Sheila Dikshit regime, Delhi government today asked its Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to probe alleged irregularities worth Rs 184 crore in the construction of the Ring Road bypass ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

On the basis of Delhi government's request, ACB had yesterday registered an FIR to probe the multi-crore street lighting scam in which Dikshit's role has come under the scanner. The decision was taken on the basis of the Prime Minister- appointed high-level Shunglu Committee report which had alleged that financial lapses had occurred in the construction work for the bypass —— from Salimgarh Fort to Velodrome Road.

ACB has so far not registered an FIR in this case, official sources said. The project was awarded to private contractors in two parts —— Package I for works on flyovers, and Package II related to the major part of work on roads —— at a cost of Rs 407 crore, according to a press release issued late in the evening by Delhi government. It is alleged that the private contractor had inflated charges for the use of men and material in the project. The alleged loss to the government is estimated to be Rs 184 crore, it said.

Delhi government alleged "many significant irregularities, omissions and commissions" during the entire tender process for 14 projects related to the 2010 event. These works were estimated to be of over Rs 1,500 crore.

PTI