The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Thursday took cognizance of a complaint made by Leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta alleging corruption in the construction of 24 hospitals by the Delhi government.

The commission instructed the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Delhi government to conduct an in-depth investigation into the matter. Gupta also conducted a surprise inspection at the construction site of a new block in the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital complex and claimed that the construction of the block has been stalled for a long time.

Disclosing the reasons, the BJP MLA alleged, “In 2020, the Delhi government had planned to construct a 22-story block with 1,570 beds at LNJP Hospital. Initially, the estimated cost for this project was set at Rs 710 crore. Construction was to begin in November 2020 and be completed within 30 months, by May 2023. However, when the tender was issued after completing the departmental procedures, the construction cost was lowered to Rs 533 crore.”

He claimed that the tender was awarded to an agency at approximately 13 per cent below the estimated cost, for Rs 465 crore and accused the government of intentionally reducing the initial estimate of Rs 710 crore to Rs 533 crore, sowing the seeds of corruption.

“The number of required equipment was reduced, only to later increase them and engage in corruption. As a result, the construction cost has escalated from Rs 465 crore to Rs 1,135 crore over four years, and yet, only 50 per cent of the work has been completed.

Currently, the construction is completely halted, and the agency has abandoned the project,” Gupta said.

He added that there isn't a single department in the AAP-led Delhi government that isn't mired in corruption. “Whether it be educational institutions, hospitals, ration cards, waterlogging, the deteriorating condition of roads, or public transport systems, large-scale corruption is evident everywhere,” Gupta asserted.

Meanwhile, AAP has accused BJP of concocting new stories to save face and said that its government is a staunchly honest government dedicated to providing the best health care and education system in the country. “The BJP-led central government has unleashed all sorts of investigations against us—CBI, ED, ACB, IT, and even constituted the ‘Shungloo Committee’—since 2015. Yet, not a shred of corruption has been found against us. This time will be no different,” a statement by AAP said.