Latest news with #Rs15.9
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bridge built at 424 crore in Namakkal develops cracks hours after chief minister opens it for public
Namakkal: Hours after chief minister M K Stalin virtually opened the new bridge constructed at a cost of Rs424 crore at Pallipalayam here on Thursday for the public use, cracks developed on it at several places, raising questions on the quality of construction and possible corruption. Constructed by the state govt's highways and minor ports department, the bridge is part of the Kanyakumari-Chennai Industrial Project. Bhoomi puja for the project was held four years ago by the then AIADMK govt led by Edappadi K Palaniswami. The construction was paused for a few months because of lack of funds. When the issue was brought to Stalin's attention, he ensured that sufficient funds, along with additional resources for the project, were allotted to resume the construction work. After the inaugural ceremony, a function was held at Pallipalayam that saw the participation of adi dravidar welfare minister Dr Mathiventhan, Namakkal district collector S Uma, Erode MP Prakash, Namakkal MP Matheswaran and other public representatives. Within hours of its opening, the public reported cracks on the bridge. When questioned about the issue, minister Mathiventhan said the state govt had spent a substantial amount on the bridge and that it was not at any risk of damage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Feirão Solar BV Banco BV Saiba Mais Undo "A significant number of vehicles are currently using the bridge. If at all it develops any damage, the same will be promptly inspected and repaired." PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, meanwhile, called for a probe into possible corruption in the project. He said it was the govt's responsibility to oversee the construction work and guarantee quality, especially when the bridge was built with funding from international banks. He said the residents of Pallipalayam had raised various irregularities during the bridge construction work and those allegations could not be overlooked. Anbumani said the quality of bridges and roads constructed after the DMK formed govt in the state was questionable. "The bridge built across Thenpennai river near Thandarampattu in Tiruvannamalai district at a cost of Rs15.9 crore was washed away by floods within three months of its inauguration. The govt evaded accountability by attributing the incident to the water release from Sathanur dam." Collector S Uma, who examined the bridge after complaints of cracks, said reports of damage were false. "Prior to the inauguration, a load test of 150 tonnes was carried out in February to evaluate the bridge's quality and stability. The findings confirmed that the bridge meets all safety standards," she said. In a statement on Thursday, the state highways and minor ports dept said there was a deliberate attempt to defame the govt by spreading false information. "The bridge has met all safety standards and the contractor is obliged to carry out maintenance for seven years,'' said the statement.
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CDWP approves 5 uplift projects
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved five development projects at cost of Rs15.9 billion and referred five major projects amounting to approximately Rs127.1 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. A marathon meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, which lasted over six hours, a total of ten development projects were discussed. Out of these, five projects with a cumulative cost of Rs15.9 billion were approved at the CDWP level. Additionally, five major projects, amounting to approximately Rs127.1 billion, were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final consideration and approval. The meeting was attended by Awais Manzur Sumra, Secretary Planning, along with Chief Economist, VC PIDE, other members of the Planning Commission, Chief Economist of PC, federal secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning and Development (P&D) departments, and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments. The agenda focused on development projects across key sectors, including education and training, environment, governance, higher education, information technology, physical planning and housing, special areas (AJK & GB) and transport and communications. The minister directed the Planning Ministry to develop mechanism for notifying construction rates for highway and buildings projects in light of accurate cost of construction. He directed that thorough scrutiny of projects should be ensured by sponsoring departments to avoid inflated cost. He directed Higher Education Commission and Government of Punjab to coordinate on laptop procurement in order to consolidate the demand for next four years and invite leading laptop manufacturers to setup plant in Pakistan. A project related to education and training sector presented in the forum namely, 'Construction of Academic Blocks of National University of Pakistan, Islamabad (New)' worth Rs1,597.428 million has approved by CDWP the forum. A project related to environment sector presented in the meeting namely 'Formulation of National Urban Strategy and Guidelines to Reduce the Impact of Urban Flooding, Droughts, Climate Disasters and National Guidelines for Spatial Planning Considering Climate Change/Disaster Risk in Pakistan (New)' at cost of Rs106.401 million fully funded by UN Habitat approved by the CDWP forum. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CDWP clears development projects worth Rs15.9bn, refers Rs127bn schemes to ECNEC
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Friday approved ten development projects, five of which, worth Rs15.9 billion, were cleared at its own level, while five major schemes amounting to approximately Rs 127.1 billion were referred to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. The meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, reviewed proposals across multiple sectors including higher education, IT, environment, governance, and transport. Among the key projects referred to ECNEC was the Rs40.76 billion revised FBR modernization project, aimed at overhauling the tax authority's digital infrastructure with World Bank funding. It includes cloud deployment, software upgrades, and the rollout of advanced tools like e-way billing, vehicle tracking, and faceless assessments. ECNEC approves 9 uplift projects worth Rs355.736bn Another major referral included the Rs27 billion Chief Minister Punjab Laptop Program, a non-PSDP-funded initiative to distribute laptops to over 112,000 students across the province to promote digital literacy and human capital development. CDWP also referred the Rs12.3 billion Sindh schools reconstruction project to ECNEC. The project aims to rebuild flood-damaged schools, with a focus on girls' and mixed-enrollment institutions in the worst-hit districts. Two transport projects in Sindh, the Rs37.7 billion Sindh Coastal Highway (Phase II) and the Rs9.28 billion dualization of Tando Allahyar–Tando Adam Road, were also forwarded for ECNEC consideration. Projects approved at the CDWP level include the Rs7.4 billion Revamping IT Industry Landscape, aimed at workforce training and strategic branding to boost exports, and the Rs2.45 billion innovation centre at Islamia College University, Peshawar. Ecnec approves 13 key projects worth Rs1.275trn In the environment sector, the CDWP approved a UN Habitat-funded Rs106 million project for developing a national urban strategy and climate resilience guidelines to reduce the impact of urban flooding and climate disasters. Speaking during the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal stressed that only those projects that directly contribute to institutional efficiency and national growth should be included in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). He emphasized aligning projects with the 'URAAN Pakistan' vision, ensuring cost transparency, and curbing inflated estimates. The minister also directed the Planning Ministry to develop a construction rate notification mechanism and encouraged coordination between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Punjab government for consolidated laptop procurement.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
DVAC seizes 16 lakh bribe money from cooperative society manager in Coimbatore
Coimbatore: Sleuths attached to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) seized Rs15.9 lakh of bribe money from the manager of a cooperative society at Vadambacherry near Sulur here on Monday. According to a DVAC sleuth, they, along with the officials attached to the district inspection cell, conducted a raid at the office of the Primary Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society at Vadambacherry near Sulur around 3pm on the day based on a specific tip that the staff there were indulging in corruption. He said Soundappan, 54, the manager of the cooperative society, was in the habit of collecting bribe from the handloom weavers receiving subsidies from the govt in Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy and Kancheepuram circles. "Handloom weavers from these districts supply dhotis and saris to the cooperative society. The govt provides them with incentives and subsidies based on the production of handloom products," the DVAC sleuth said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Mysterious Photos That Cannot Be Explained True Edition Undo Pointing out that more than 700 handloom weavers were members of the cooperative society, he said Soundappan always demanded bribes from them for providing the incentives. "He collected Rs15.9 lakh from them as a bribe. The amount was kept in his table. We seized the same during the search operation." The DVAC sleuths have registered a first information report against Soundappan under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation is on.
