BJP, AAP clash over report on Chandni Chowk revamp ‘scam'
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According to the report, the cost of redeveloping the 1.3km stretch— inaugurated in 2021 by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal—swelled from an initial estimate of Rs 65.6 crore to Rs 145 crore.
The report stated that the initial cost for civil and electrical works, estimated at Rs. 27.8 crore, escalated nearly fourfold to Rs. 105.9 crore. Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Delhi BJP spokesperson and general secretary of Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, alleged that for the past 25 years, Delhi's governance had been run by officers on deputation.
"These officers have always viewed Chandni Chowk only as a Mughal-era city, never understanding or appreciating its commercial identity. Ignoring reality, they repeatedly proposed plans to develop Chandni Chowk merely as a tourist centre, often persuading CMs to approve impractical schemes," he said in a statement.
After assuming office in 2015, AAP govt began formulating development and beautification projects for Chandni Chowk without consulting its residents or traders, Kapoor claimed.
In 2018–19, despite opposition from local trade bodies and Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, the local MLA pushed through the redevelopment project prepared by bureaucrats and had it implemented by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, he said.
Hitting back, AAP said: "The people of Delhi know very well that for the last 10 years, vigilance and ACB were under BJP's LG, and it was LG's duty to ensure that corrupt officers were punished. It was BJP's LG who was appointing officers to various positions. Opening enquiries into old cases only shows their incompetence."
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