NDMC budget to avoid controversies

Still reeling under allegations of corruption by Shunglu Committee for its Commonwealth Games projects, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will present its budget 2012-2013 on Friday.

Still reeling under allegations of corruption by Shunglu Committee for its Commonwealth Games projects, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will present its budget 2012-2013 on Friday.

HT Image

The budget will focus on sanitation incentives and completion of the games projects.

Even though more than a year has passed since the games, several NDMC projects have remained incomplete — the main being the Shivaji Stadium redevelopment project and the multi-level parking at Baba Kharak Singh Marg.

The ambitious Connaught Place redevelopment project, which aims at restoring the façade and building a service tunnel in the middle circle is still underway. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

According to sources, NDMC will avoid announcing big projects in Friday’s budget. “Every ambitious project witnesses problems and escalation of costs. After the controversies over corruption, departments don’t want to take any risk,” said a senior NDMC official.

Year 2011 was one of great changes in the administration of NDMC, which is also another reason why projects announced in the last budget have not been implemented.

While Archana Arora took over the reins as chairperson, several offices also saw changes.

Some projects that suffered due to the change include the one to have art installations in buildings belonging to NDMC. Last year, NDMC had also announced 78 play fields across NDMC area, smart card for students in all its schools and construction of integrated sports complex at Laxmibai Nagar. The projects are yet to be implemented.