A team of the Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) on Tuesday inspected the ongoing renovation work on a foot overbridge in Central Delhi’s ITO before directing officials to stop “unnecessary” work on the part of the structure which is in “good condition”.
The move comes a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised the issue.
According to a senior government official, it was found that there was no need to change the tiles on the ramp of the foot overbridge on Vikas Marg here as they were in a “good condition”.
“The chief engineer and his team inspected the ramp. He will submit his report later this week,” said the government official.
‘Misuse of public funds’
BJP leaders had alleged that renovation work was undertaken despite the foot overbridge being in a good shape.
Images and videos of labourers removing slabs from the stairs of the foot overbridge in front of the PWD headquarters, located a stone’s throw from the structure, were circulated on social media. Following this the BJP took up the issue, with its MP Maheish Girri even writing to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal. In his complaint, Mr. Girri demanded action against officials responsible for “misuse of public funds” in “avoidable” renovation work.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, who visited the foot overbridge on Tuesday, alleged “corruption” in the renovation work. The anti-skid chequered tiles in “very good condition”, the BJP claimed, were being removed and replaced with granite-marble slabs.
“Undue renovation of this foot overbridge symbolises the corruption of the Kejriwal government. The renovation work going on deserves an explanation from Minister Satyendra Jain and Secretary of the Department to the people of Delhi,” Mr. Tiwari said.
