Big roadblock: Too many heads

Multiplicity of authority is the biggest hurdle for executing agencies when it comes to carrying out development work in the Capital. Neelam Pandey reports.

Multiplicity of authority is the biggest hurdle for executing agencies when it comes to carrying out development work in the Capital.

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On more than one occasion, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has blamed lack of co-ordination among various agencies for delay in completing projects. But the problem assumed a larger magnitude in projects related to the Commonwealth Games 2010.

A number of projects such as completion of flats being constructed by the Delhi Development Authority in various parts of the city, including the Games Village in east Delhi, were not completed on time. Parking areas to accommodate vehicles of the athletes and delegation were also completed at the last minute.

The heart of the city, Connaught Place, which was to be completely revamped for the Games, was left with unfinished subway construction.

But Dikshit said, "Despite having a small bureaucratic set up and huge multiplicity of authorities in Delhi, we were still able to conduct the Commonwealth Games successfully. The city government did wonderfully well and came out with flying colours."

Delhi government and MCD have always been at loggerheads over managing the city. A number of the Games projects were to be executed by the civic agency, which maintained that due to delay in clearances from various Delhi government departments, its projects were delayed. The Delhi government also achieved to trifurcate the civic agency into smaller units.