Local businessmen and members of Doon Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DUVM) have alleged that substandard quality materials are being used in the ongoing construction work under the Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL). According to them, construction work of substandard quality is being carried out in the construction projects by the contractors.

Despite consistent assurances from senior officials of DSCL, local businessmen continue to express their disappointment towards the ongoing smart city work in market places. The members of DUVM conducted a meeting on Sunday discussing various issues caused due to smart city projects. The spokesman of the union, Devendra Dhalla said that there are several irregularities in smart city projects which are mostly done under contractors hired by the authorities which is bound to destroy the marketplaces. He said that the businessmen demand the authorities concerned to properly monitor the work being done under the smart city project. The authorities should first finish the ongoing construction work before jumping to another one. He said that improper construction of drainage, footpaths and roads is causing drainage issues during rains which should be considered by the authorities. "The DSCL has laid ducts but should also work on proper sewerage management too. Low quality tiles have been laid on the roads which must be changed soon. The workers have dug out stretches in market areas which continue to cause inconvenience to people. The authorities should look into it too. The DSCL has planned to install electric boxes which must be stopped as it is already causing issues to shopkeepers as well as customers," said Dhalla. He said that several issues were discussed in the meeting and the authorities have been made aware of these issues too.

The union has appealed to all the businessmen to keep a close watch on the works being done under Smart City to ensure irregularities under DSCL do not destroy the entire market, he added.