Connaught Place facelift to be finally complete by March
After a series of delays, the Connaught Place redevelopment work is finally expected to be complete by March this year but the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) is no hurry to hold the agencies accountable for the lapses.
Unveiling this year's budget, NDMC chairperson, Archana Arora, today said that right now the focus of the civic agency was on completing the project which aims to give a facelift to the British era structure of the commercial hub as soon as possible and that they were not yet thinking about launching an inquiry into the delay.
The agency had earlier set December 2012 as the last deadline to complete the project that was launched before the Commonwealth Games 2010. However, that too could not be met.
"Yes, the Connaught Place (CP) work has not been completed yet. Out of 12 blocks, facade restoration in 10 blocks had been completed. In two it's on, hopefully it will be completed next month. As far as surface development is concerned, in the middle corridor circle, concrete road has been made, garbage stations and toilets are being made," Ms Arora told reported while answering questions about the delay in the project.
The CP plan has also seen several revisions including slashing of the budget and the shelving of an underground parking and subway project.
"Earlier, our project costs were Rs 674 crore but over time some plans were changed and now the budget stands at Rs 400 crore. Till now Rs 296 crore have been spent," Ms Arora told reporters later, while expressing confidence that the project will finally be complete by April or May this year.
She said the NDMC had raised objections with the Engineers India Limited (EIL) that is the implementing authority for the project about the delays but the primary objective at the moment was to finish the work.
"Let us first finish the work, then we will think if it is needed. At this point of time, we want to complete the project," she said when repeatedly asked if the NDMC aims to launch an inquiry to determine blame and lapses for the delay.
