In a strange case, a consultant firm — hired for construction of Rs53 crore Bijwasan road project during 2010 Commonwealth Games — has unlawfully turned out to be the contractor under a joint venture (JV) for the same project. The project was under South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and more than four years have elapsed since the Commonwealth Games were held in the national Capital but the project has not been completed.
Najafgarh-Bijwasan Road was one of the locations under an umbrella programme, which included the construction of rail overbridge (RoB) at Sultanpuri railway crossing, remodelling and covering of Madipur drain, remodelling and covering of Ramesh Nagar drain and construction of RoB at Bijwasan railway crossing. Park Projects Consultancy Pvt ltd was assigned the consultant for the projects. The total cost of all the projects was pegged at Rs200 crore.
Sources in the civic body said that the penalty for the fraud will be decided soon as per the quantum of the issue. Park Projects Consultancy Pvt ltd, which was identified as the consultant, also turned out to be the contractor of the project. As per the guidelines of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the firm hired to provide consultancy services of a project will be disqualified from subsequently providing services related to the same project as it is conflicting in nature.
The cost estimated of the project also escalated from Rs44 crore to a revised Rs53 crore. The change of design patterns resulted in revision of the cost. Moreover, the height of the project was increased from 10.755 mts to 11.245 mts towards Kapashera side and from 11.257 mts to 11.457 mts towards Bijwasan side. The change in height has led to a change in design without the concurrence of railway officials.
According to a report, M/s Park Projects Consultancy Pvt ltd was engaged to provide consultancy for preparations of tender document, general arrangement for drawings and estimation of quantities. In the second call for tenders, the construction work was awarded to a joint venture named M/S VK Sood-PIl (JV). The PIl was identified as the company M/s Park Infrastructure ltd. The first call of tenders was declined owing to high rates.
During the SDMC Standing Committee meet on Friday, the corporation’s leader of Opposition Farhad Suri raised the issue of the construction of approach roads for rail overbridge and underpass at railway level crossing Najafgarh-Bijwasan. Suri alleged that it was scam and he has written to the lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in this regard.