Delhi PWD minister suspends officials, seeks FIR against contractor over Dwarka judicial quarters

The minister said the contractor was also told to pay the balance of construction cost, which was around ₹35 crore

Published on: May 20, 2025, 05:22:10 IST

By Snehil Sinha

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Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma, in action over “structurally unfit” judicial quarters in Dwarka that were demolished in December 2024, suspended nine officials, initiated departmental action against them, and called for an FIR against the contractor involved in the project.

Delhi PWD minister Parvesh Verma. (PTI archive)

The minister said the contractor was also told to pay the balance of construction cost, which was around ₹35 crore. Officials said that among those found responsible, the chief engineer took voluntary retirement last November.

“It is shocking that an entire residential complex constructed for crores of rupees was found unfit even before anyone could start living there. We have asked the vigilance department to serve show cause notice to the nine officials concerned. We have also ordered an FIR be registered against the contractor and the balance payment be taken from him,” Verma told HT.

Besides the chief engineer, two superintendent engineers—one retired and the other transferred to CPWD—four executive engineers—two retired and two transferred out of PWD—and two assistant engineers—one retired and the other moved to CPWD—were involved, officials said.

The contractor paid ₹24.89 crore of ₹30.05 crore, and ₹5.3 crore has been forfeited, officials said.

The PWD minister said the construction of the new residential complex is also being reviewed and has not been approved yet, owing to exaggerated cost estimates. “Officials gave an estimate of ₹171 crore for the new complex, at a rate of around ₹9,000 per square feet. The previous structure was built at around ₹35 crore. The new rate seems quite high and we will be reviewing market rates and other possible options,” Verma said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Snehil Sinha
Snehil Sinha is an Assistant Editor with the Delhi Metro bureau of Hindustan Times, where she reports on politics, governance, public policy, urban infrastructure and transport, subjects that shape the everyday lives of millions in the national capital. Over a journalism career spanning 14 years, she has built a reputation for meticulous, data-driven reporting that combines on-ground perspectives with policy analysis. She began her career with The Indian Express before joining Hindustan Times, where she has reported extensively on civic administration and urban governance in Gurugram, Noida and now Delhi. Her reporting is distinguished by its clarity, depth and balance. Whether covering large-scale infrastructure projects, environmental challenges, transport reforms or government policy, she tries to translate complex administrative decisions into accessible, engaging stories without losing nuance. Her work reflects a strong command of public records, official data and field reporting, often connecting policy announcements with their impact on citizens. Her stories go beyond headlines to explain how governance decisions influence the city's growth, mobility and quality of life, making her work an important contribution to informed public discourse.Read More

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