Retired IAS officer M N Vijay Kumar on Friday said Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and Nagarjuna Constructions, which have bagged the contract to build the flyover, have a tainted track record.
Addressing a press conference, Vijay Kumar said the World Bank, in its order dated March 7, 2013, had barred L&T from doing any business with it or the projects funded by it for six months after finding that a senior executive of the firm had indulged in fraud in a health project in Tamil Nadu. This had made it ineligible for contracts for any WB-funded projects and loans.
On the other hand, Nagarjuna Constructions, the joint bidder along with L&T, was blacklisted by the Puducherry government in 2012 based on a CBI report. On March 15, 2016, there was a major leak in the Godavari water supply project executed by Nagarjuna Constructions.
“Even the Telangana government contemplated blacklisting it,” said Kumar.He added that a bridge taken up by Nagarjuna Constructions at Agartala in Tripura collapsed during load testing on April 21, 2016.
He said these facts establishing frauds by both L&T and Nagarjuna Constructions were suppressed by senior IAS officers even after they were brought to the notice of the government and officers concerned.
Transferred again
He claimed that T M Vijay Bhaskar was posted as the additional chief secretary in the Urban Development Department on January 1. He was transferred four months later.
“Vijay Bhaskar had sought transfer to avoid participating in the illegal activities of BDA, particularly the steel bridge project and illegal de-notification of acquired lands,” said Kumar. He flayed Bhaskar for seeking transfer and keeping quiet after the transfer.
Kumar added that the government suppressed many facts before the High Court hearing the public interest litigation relating to what he called “a bridge of corruption”.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks