Mumbai: The gross mismanagement in planning and execution of projects has caused City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) has resulted in financial losses to the tune of several crores to the state exchequer. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in the state Legislative Assembly today, has passed incrementing strictures on the agency for inadequate planning for execution of individual projects.
The report says that the delay in appointment of consultant and lack of synchronization in various activities pertaining to implementation of Nerul – Uran Railway (NRU) Project was delayed by three years. The Phase I of the project was expected to complete in December 2015, which was delayed till November 2018. The work on stations in Phase II is still in progress, the report says. The flaws in planning, CIDCO had to terminate the work awarded for construction of a Rail over Bridge (ROB) at Dronagiri. It was after spending Rs 76 lakh, the authorities concerned realized that there was gas pipeline passing under the foundation of RoB. The authorities did not act in time, to secure necessary permissions from various other departments. The work of the RoB near proposed Uran station was held up as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) had not granted permission for the work of approach road, as there was a pipeline passing under it.
The CAG, in the report, says, CIDCO needs to ensure better coordination with other departments to ensure timely completion of the projects. The report also points out irregularities in tender process. Referring to the tendering process, CAG said that advertisement for 16 tenders with extimated cost of Rs 50 Cr were not published in leading newspapers at national level. It was violation of the laid down guidelines. Similarly, the global tenders for the projects like NMMR and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NIMA) were not published in any international publication. CAG also pointed out that in six contracts with estimated cost of Rs 890.42 Cr, the contractors did not possess the minimum prescribed value work experience, but were awarded the work. The CAG has noticed anomalies in 17 contracts collectively worth Rs 534 Cr. The agency, according to CAG report, did not follow the guidelines pertaining to tendering and lacked transparency.
The CAG has pointed out that, CIDCO paid Rs 25.33 Cr mobilization advance in one of the NMMR project worth Rs 1328 Cr, in violation of the contract conditions. The CAG has suggested CIDCO should address these issues urgently so that their project management and procedures are streamlined to achieve their objective of infrastructure development more economically and effectively.
