CAG gives a thumbs down to Connaught Place redevelopment plan

The New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) ambitious plan, to develop Connaught Place (CP) in collaboration with Engineers India Limited (EIL), has failed miserably after a huge amount of money was rendered unfruitful in various projects, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report stated on Friday.

According to the report, the primary objective of conservation of heritage character and structural stability of buildings in CP "could not be achieved" and the "scope of the project as originally envisaged was drastically reduced from Rs 615.20 crore to Rs 477.02 crore".

The report further highlighted the restoration of facades was done only for the inner and outer circles at an expenditure of Rs 40.02 crore but the middle circle remained untouched. Also, the flooring of facade corridors was "not executed" and "no reasons were produced to the auditors for non-execution of the work".

Supporting the CAG findings, the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) said the Council has completely failed in implementing the projects announced. Also, the material used for renovation projects was of sub-standard quality, the traders alleged.

"The CAG report is 100 per cent correct. Even though the facades of inner and outer circles were completed, the material used was not up to the mark, so much so that the renovated parapets developed cracks and fell off at many places," NDTA Joint Secretary Vinay Bahl said.

"We have been present with suggestions from the very first day of redevelopment. But nothing much was done, except for the tunnels, whose services are not perfect. Our complaints have not been acted upon," NDTA Secretary Vikram Badhwar said.

NDMC officials, meanwhile, said they have not received the report and would comment only after analysing the findings. "As soon as the report is received, the department will analyse it and only then would we be able to make a comment," an NDMC official said.

The redevelopment plan for one of the oldest markets in the city included construction of new subways, remodeling of existing subways, redesigning of roads to make the outer circle signal-free, enabling free flow of traffic, enhancing parking facilities, upgrade of public conveniences, environmental improvement and engineering improvement.

But according to the CAG report, none of these aims were met in entirety. It stated that "improvement in subways, escalators, underground parking space, and landscaping and lighting, was intended to ease both traffic and pedestrian movement and to improve visitors' experience. It was not completed."

The report also established the civic body's inaction in firefighting and highlighted the "deficiencies in realistic conceptulisation and planning of the stated objectives". "The efficacy of augmentation of fire-fighting capabilities done at a cost of Rs 4.97 crore could not be assured in the audit," it said, adding that the expenditure amounting to Rs 14.67 crore on utility corridors, surface development, and water supply was rendered unfruitful.

The report also held the EIL responsible for not submitting to NDMC the financial implications of change in technology adopted for construction of service tunnel, despite an increase in cost from original Rs 71.21 crore to Rs 192.95 crore.

The premier market, situated in the heart of the city, reported several incidents of roof collapses last month, with the NDMC issuing notices to 900 shops and closing down more than two dozen open-air restaurants operating for years without permission.

CAG Grievances

1. Reduction of originally envisaged amount from Rs 615.20 crore to Rs 477.02 crore.
2. Rs 14.67 crore spent on utility corridors, surface development, water supply and flooring, unfruitful.
3. Extra expenditure of Rs 3.38 crore on flooring of corridors and providing of kerbs.
4. Extra expenditure, from Rs 71.21 crore to Rs 192.95 crore, for change in technology adopted.