2 yrs on, RTO building not ready, transport dept raps developer

For more than two years, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) building at Andheri (West) has been under construction.

For more than two years, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) building at Andheri (West) has been under construction.

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Upset, the state transport department has issued an ultimatum to the developer to complete the project on a war footing.

On Tuesday, transport department officials met developer KS Chamankar and directed him to expedite the work. The project has breached its two-year deadline last March.

In 2006, Chamankar was selected to build a ground-plus-three-storey RTO building on a 7,013 sq m plot at Andheri at a cost of Rs 15.52 crore under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.

He was also to build a test track for vehicles and a residential complex for officers.

Chamankar was also given two other projects — to construct Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi for state politicians and a rest
house, High Mount, at Malabar Hill — at a total cost of Rs 100 crore.

“There has been no progress in the civil work on this RTO building for more than six months,” state Transport Commissioner Deepak Kapoor told Hindustan Times. “We have asked him to complete the ground floor of the building within four months and shift the present RTO office there.”

One of Chamankar’s associates confirmed that work has been halted because a nullah next to the building has to be diverted. Despite repeated calls, Chamankar remained unavailable for comment.

“We told him that the construction of the RTO building should be his first priority and that he got the other two projects because he promised to complete this first,” said Kapoor.

In exchange, Chamankar was to construct a building on a neighbouring plot to rehabilitate the residents of a five-storey transit camp, raze the old building and exploit the plot for commercial purposes, sources in the transport department said.

“We will not allow any commercial development of the plot unless Chamankar completes this project,” added Kapoor.

State Transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who was also present in Tuesday’s meeting, said: “The government is serious about the non-completion of this project and if the contractor is found guilty then we will take action against him.”

Sources said Chamankar was facing a cash crunch to complete the project as he had diverted funds for the other two projects — Maharashtra Sadan and High Mount.