The Aam Aadmi Party government’s claims that it had managed to save money on several construction projects were false, the Delhi Congress alleged on Thursday, adding that the final amount had exceeded the initial cost estimates.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had last week stated during his “Talk to AK” programme that the AAP government had saved money on flyover projects initiated by the erstwhile Congress government.
For instance, Mr. Kejriwal had said, there had been substantial savings during the construction of the flyover from Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh.
Competitive bids
Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said the Congress government had sanctioned Rs.560 crore for the project in June 2012. In December 2012, the estimated cost arrived at was Rs.464 crore. But after competitive bids were received, the tender was allotted for Rs.407 crore in February 2013, he added. Mr. Maken further said the AAP government had spent Rs.450 crore, with several works still pending.
“The government has gone over by Rs.43 crore, but the Chief Minister is still citing the initial sanctioned amount to claim Rs.100 crore as savings. They are spreading lies,” said Mr. Maken.
For the flyover from Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk, Mr. Maken said, the tender was awarded at Rs.289 crore in March 2013. However, he claimed, the AAP government spent Rs.300 crore on it instead. The flyover from Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk, allotted in March 2013 at a cost of Rs.279 crore, had been made at a total cost of Rs.300 crore, he added.
Ramping up its protests, the Congress will hold a demonstration on Sunday, the same day Mr. Kejriwal inaugurates the Vikaspuri flyover.
