‘Cost exceeded by Rs 670 crore’: L-G alleges corruption in construction of new block at Lok Nayak Hospital, orders Vigilance probe

Besides, he has constituted a committee to examine the “procedural violations” that led to the cost escalation. The committee will also examine all such on-going projects in different Delhi government hospitals.

Blaming Delhi government’s Health Department under minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and the Public Works Department headed by Atishi for the cost escalation, the L-G office alleged that “there is a clear collusion” between the two leaders.

Bharadwaj, meanwhile, said at a press conference, “The L-G’s work is to order inquiries day and night. What other work has he done for Delhi? The Vigilance Department is under him. He does this so that the media asks questions.”

The L-G has alleged that there has been a violation of procedures in issuing a tender worth Rs 465 crore for the construction of the additional block at Lok Nayak Hospital, the budget for which increased to Rs 1,135 crore.

The L-G office said the scheduled start date of the additional block construction was November 4, 2020 with a completion period of 30 months. “However, even after three-and-a-half years, the current progress of work is only 64%, even as costs have risen by 243%,” said the office, adding that this has led to the creation of an unauthorised liability of approximately Rs 670 crore on the Delhi government.

“The PWD attributed the cost overruns to increase in the scope of work. But while the scope of work increased by 8.61% only, the cost increased by a whopping 143%. Interestingly, such huge cost overruns were done at the level of the engineers of the (PWD) Department itself, even though it should have gone to the Finance Department and the Cabinet,” the L-G office said.

Responding to the allegations, a Delhi government source pointed out that the L-G is himself saying that cost escalation has happened at the level of officers without the knowledge of the government, and the officers are directly under the control of L-G. “We welcome any inquiry into this matter and strictest punishment if any illegality is found. These officers are directly under the control of L-G. The Vigilance Department is directly under L-G. The L-G and his department should have been more proactive instead of coming into action after media reports,” the official said.