Latest news with #ShahjahanabadRedevelopmentCorporation
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dissolve Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation: BJP
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on Sunday demanded the dissolution of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) and a full audit of its ten years of operations. He accused the previous government of operating the corporation 'arbitrarily'. The SRDC, constituted in 2008 by then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, was tasked with promoting and conserving built and natural heritage in the Old City. Mr. Kapoor earlier stated that the government was planning to disband the SRDC and replace it with the Indraprastha Redevelopment Board. Mr. Kapoor, who is also the general secretary of the Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, said that for the past 25 years, Delhi's governance has 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, these officers have repeatedly proposed plans to develop Chandni Chowk as merely a tourist centre, often persuading Chief Ministers to approve impractical schemes,' he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP, AAP clash over report on Chandni Chowk revamp ‘scam'
New Delhi: Delhi BJP on Sunday welcomed a govt report on the alleged scam in the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan and demanded the dissolution of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, along with a full audit of its 10 years of operations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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."
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Traders body hail Delhi government report on ‘corruption' in Chandni Chowk redevelopment project
It claimed that the initial cost for civil and electrical works — estimated at Rs 27.79 crore — escalated nearly fourfold to Rs 105.93 crore. According to the report, the 1.3-kilometre redeveloped stretch, inaugurated in 2021 by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, saw its project cost swell from an initial estimate of Rs 65.6 crore to Rs 145 crore. New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) A local traders and residents body has welcomed a government report on the alleged scam in the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan, and demanded the dissolution of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation and a full audit of its 10 years of operations. Praveen Shankar Kapoor, a Delhi BJP spokesperson and general secretary of the 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, these officers have repeatedly proposed plans to develop Chandni Chowk as merely a tourist centre, often persuading Chief Ministers to approve impractical schemes,' he alleged in a statement. After coming to power in 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government began formulating development and beautification projects for Chandni Chowk without understanding or consulting its residents and traders, he claimed. In 2018-19, despite opposition from local trade bodies and the Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, then Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba pushed the redevelopment project prepared by bureaucrats and had it implemented by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, he said. Kapoor demanded the dissolution of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, 'which has operated arbitrarily,' and a full audit of its ten years of operations. PTI SLB VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Traders body hail Delhi government report on 'corruption' in Chandni Chowk redevelopment project
New Delhi, A local traders and residents body has welcomed a government report on the alleged scam in the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan, and demanded the dissolution of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation and a full audit of its 10 years of operations. According to the report, the 1.3-kilometre redeveloped stretch, inaugurated in 2021 by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, saw its project cost swell from an initial estimate of Rs 65.6 crore to Rs 145 crore. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program It claimed that the initial cost for civil and electrical works -- estimated at Rs 27.79 crore -- escalated nearly fourfold to Rs 105.93 crore. Praveen Shankar Kapoor , a Delhi BJP spokesperson and general secretary of the 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, these officers have repeatedly proposed plans to develop Chandni Chowk as merely a tourist centre, often persuading Chief Ministers to approve impractical schemes," he alleged in a statement. Live Events After coming to power in 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government began formulating development and beautification projects for Chandni Chowk without understanding or consulting its residents and traders, he claimed. In 2018-19, despite opposition from local trade bodies and the Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, then Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba pushed the redevelopment project prepared by bureaucrats and had it implemented by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, he said. Kapoor demanded the dissolution of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, "which has operated arbitrarily," and a full audit of its ten years of operations. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Delhi govt to probe financial irregularities in Chandni Chowk redevelopment project
Synopsis The Delhi government is set to investigate the Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Project due to alleged financial irregularities and significant cost overruns, escalating from Rs 65.6 crore to Rs 145 crore. Officials found deviations from procurement norms, unapproved expenditures exceeding Rs 70 crore, and the diversion of Rs 30 crore without proper financial concurrence. TNN The Delhi government is likely to initiate an inquiry into the Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Project after internal findings pointed out alleged "financial irregularities" and cost overruns, officials said on Friday. The 1.3-kilometre stretch redeveloped, inaugurated in 2021 by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saw its project cost swell from an initial estimate of Rs 65.6 crore to Rs 145 crore. According to documents reviewed by officials, the initial cost for civil and electrical works -- estimated at Rs 27.79 crore -- escalated nearly fourfold to Rs 105.93 crore. "As per established norms, revised sanction must be obtained when project costs exceed approved limits. But PWD continued spending beyond the sanctioned Rs 99.68 crore without obtaining the mandatory revised approval," officials said. To avoid cabinet scrutiny, PWD is alleged to have submitted only an additional preliminary estimate of Rs 40 crore, rather than a revised estimate of Rs 145 crore as required for projects exceeding Rs 100 crore, added. As per the PWD's internal report, "it has also been found that the project was executed through the same contractor without issuing fresh tenders, a direct violation of procurement norms". The report further reveals that over Rs 70 crore -- of the total Rs 145.72 crore spent -- was used for extra items and deviations not part of the original scope. In total, irregularities concerning deviations and unapproved expenditures amounted to more than Rs 370 crore across various components of the project. Another significant violation involved the diversion of Rs 30 crore from the PWD maintenance head to the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) without mandatory concurrence from the finance department. "Then engineer-in-chief directly submitted the file to the minister-in-charge, bypassing both the secretary in charge and the finance department -- a serious breach of rules and regulations," an official said. These lapses point to deep-rooted deficiencies in planning, estimation, and financial project is being described by officials as a case study in fiscal mismanagement. "The Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Project stands as a textbook case of how public money can be mishandled when rules are bent and procedures bypassed. In 2019, under the then Minister-in-Charge, costs spiralled, tenders were ignored, and crores were diverted -- all without mandatory approvals. Delhi deserves better," PWD minister Parvesh Verma said. "Under my watch, PWD will not be a playground for irregularities but a fortress of transparency and accountability, where every paisa serves the people -- not personal interests," Verma added. Responding to the allegations, AAP said in statement, "The people of Delhi know very well that for the last 10 years, vigilance and the ACB were under the BJP's LG, and it was the LG's duty to ensure that corrupt officers were punished. It was the BJP's LG who was appointing officers to various positions. Opening enquiries into old cases only shows the incompetence of their LG."
