Pending MC projects: A year on,no progress yet

Another year is drawing to a close and the status of certain projects of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

Another year is drawing to a close and the status of certain projects of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation,which have been lingering on for years now,remains unchanged. A comparison of the action taken reports prepared by the MC last year and the current year shows how the deadlines were simply extended,with little progress made in the projects.

The reasons given for non-completion of work vary from contractors not being available to shortage of material and procedural delays. While numerous debates on the issue have been held over the past one year,the projects have not seen much headway. These projects also figure in the budgetary allocations every year and the money remains unspent. A look at some of the much-awaited projects.

Parking lots

The proposals for parking lots in commercial and residential areas have been lingering on for years. Proposed in 2007,work on the multi-level parking lot in Sector 17 is yet to begin. While budgetary provisions are made every year for this,the future of the projects appears bleak with the MC and the agency executing it not being able to reach any conclusion.

Upgraded Motor Market

Approved in 2007,work at the market is still awaiting completion. The deadline has now been projected as December 31,2011,after having been extended a number of times. The proposal had been mooted with the purpose of providing better facilities in one of Asias biggest motor markets.

Widening of roads

The proposals to widen the roads in Sectors 8 and 15 were mooted two years ago. Last year,the likely date of completion had been projected as June 30,2010,which was extended to September 30. After yet another extension,the new deadline is March-April 2011. The reason being given by the MC is that underground pipes to be laid by the public health department was causing the delay.

Bird slaughter house

A provision of Rs 9.2 crore was made in the budget for 2009-10 and Rs 7 crore in that for 2010-11 for construction of the bird slaughter house. The aim was to provide the residents with hygienically slaughtered meat. There is no word on when the project will to see the light of day.

Modern dhobi ghats

After the first dhobi ghat in Sector 15 was modernised,it was proposed that the remaining would also be upgraded with coin-operated machines and other facilities. The project made no headway after the pilot project encountered with certain problems. An amount of Rs 2.5 crore was made in the budgetary allocations for 2009-10 and Rs 1.5 crore in 2010-11.

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