Reacting to a story in Hindustan Times, the Uttar Pradesh government has sought a detailed report from the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) on a 7.1-km road in Ghaziabad that was constructed during 2008-09 for around Rs 13 crore, but was damaged soon after.
Hindustan Times had published a report — 'Rs 13 crore road being rebuilt for Rs 24 crore' — on January 23.
It has been learnt that officials from the office of special director (Central Bureau of Investigation) at Delhi sent a communication (citing the HT report) to the UP chief secretary and UP director general (vigilance) for information and necessary action on January 27.The matter relates to a 7.1-km stretch on Bhopra-Loni road in Ghaziabad, near Delhi's Dilshad Garden border. The road was constructed at a cost of Rs 13 crore, but it developed large craters within a few months. GDA awarded the contract and released around Rs 11 crore of payment.
Currently, the UP Public Works Department (PWD - construction division II) is going ahead with another Rs 48.82 crore road project, which includes reconstruction of the previous 7.1km stretch and extra 2km at a cost of around Rs 24 crore.
Even after the previous episode, the GDA did not order an inquiry into the reasons which led to the road deterioration and cost a huge dent on the invested public funds.
{{/usCountry}}Even after the previous episode, the GDA did not order an inquiry into the reasons which led to the road deterioration and cost a huge dent on the invested public funds.
{{/usCountry}}If PWD's project continues, the likely reasons for previous road collapse would never come to light.
The GDA, however, held up the remaining payments to the contractor even though its officials were under severe pressure to release the payments.