Smart City Mission: CBI to look into overspending issue in Ludhiana

A complaint has been lodged with the Union Government seeking a CBI probe into the issue of overspending on several works under Smart City Mission in Ludhiana.

The top officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC), along with the officials of Ludhiana Smart City Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of projects under the Smart City Mission, have made an unabashed attempt to sweep the issue of overspending on various projects. A complaint has been lodged with the Central Government seeking a CBI probe to unearth the 'complicity' of concerned civic body officials.

The review meeting on Smart City projects called by the MC on May 2 did not discuss the reasons for the 30% surplus expense than the original estimation incurred on Sarabha Nagar Market and Malhar Road projects.

A document placed on the agenda of the meeting had mentioned the total expense at Rs 50.20 crore as against the original estimation of Rs 38.63 crore.

In a complaint to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MoHUA), Ramesh Nayyar, who has been associated with construction works of local bodies and government departments, has charged senior MC officials and Congress government officials with diverting funds to fill their treasury from the Smart City allocation over last many years.

MC officials overseeing Smart City projects are with contractors and construction agencies, as they are sharing the booty at the cost of the public treasury. There is no supervision over the quality of material employed and workmanship in the project. For the same reason, the escalated expense of Smart City projects is being approved.

Nayyar told the media that a CBI probe into overspending on these projects was sought since all projects being implemented under the Smart City Mission were partly funded by the Union Government.

The investigation would not only reveal the dubious role of MC officials concerned and the construction agency but also will uncover the real face of political leaders, who were calling the shots during the previous government, he said.

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Also read: Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to review development projects