Delhi LG Approves Land Acquisition for Barapullah Corridor Phase-III Project

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has given nod to acquire land for the completion of the Barapullah corridor phase-III project which was delayed by six years.

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the acquisition of a land parcel to complete the Barapullah corridor phase-III project, which was delayed by six years, Raj Niwas officials said on Saturday.

Inquiry into "Erred Planning" and "Assessment of Land Requirement"

According to officials, Saxena has asked the chief secretary to conduct an inquiry into the "erred planning" and "assessment of land requirement" that led to the project delay and cost escalation by Rs 362 crore.

The LG has also directed the suspension of the projects engineers in charge right from the start of the construction, if yet serving, and initiating suitable action against those who have retired, they said.

Two Land Parcels Acquired in Nangli Razapur Village

The two land parcels measuring 1,169 square meters and 709.9 square meters are located in Nangli Razapur village in the Southeast district of the city. The project was held up due to the non-acquisition of these land parcels all these years, the Raj Niwas officials said.

Additional Rs 362.37 Crore to be Paid to Contractor

Citing the AAP government's oft-repeated claims that it was saving a huge amount of public money by executing PWD projects before time and below the tendered amount, the LG noted that contrary to the claims made by even the chief minister, the government will end up paying Rs 1,326.37 crore for the Barapullah project against the tender amount of Rs 964 crore, they stated.

This amounts to an additional Rs 362.37 crore being paid to the contractor out of the government exchequer, while also delaying the project by over six years, the officials said.

Delhi Government Sources React

Reacting to Saxena's claims, Delhi government sources said it is deeply unfortunate that despite having all the requisite information concerning the matter, the LG has put up imputations against the government.

They said the project design, approvals, and land requirements were all finalized in 2013 under the Sheila Dixit government. The sanction for the project was given in December 2014 during the President's rule by the then LG, they said.

The Arvind Kejriwal government has always used public exchequer money for the betterment of Delhiites and is solemnly resolved to do so in the future, the sources added.

LG Directs Chief Secretary to Prepare Standard Operating Procedure

Saxena has noted that sheer negligence on the part of the officers in respect of planning, inspection, and field survey of land for the project led to the delay of more than six years, apart from cost overruns running into hundreds of crores, the LG office said.

The LG has also directed the chief secretary to prepare a suitable standard operating procedure (SOP) for lapse-free planning and timely execution of the project, including the identification of land and assessing the requisite area for the acquisition of land, the officials said.

He asked the chief secretary to submit an action-taken report within 15 days, they added.

The approval of the land acquisition for the Barapullah corridor phase-III project is expected to expedite its completion, which has been delayed for over six years. The inquiry into the "erred planning" and "assessment of land requirement" will help in identifying the lapses and fixing responsibility for the delay and cost escalation. The preparation of a standard operating procedure for lapse-free planning and timely execution of projects will help in avoiding such issues in the future.