Palike to have project watchdog

The unit will ensure adherence to timelines, quality of work

A Government Order (GO) is being drafted in this regard, said the sources adding the unit is likely to come up by next month.

Speaking at a public meeting organised by the Task Force for Quality Assurance in Public Work, Economic Advisor to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Dr K V Raju said the PMU will be an answer to the much-needed transparent system of working in engineering departments of various State departments.

“The unit will help design projects qualitatively for timely implementation. It will also emphasise on adopting new technologies and mobilising funds either from government sources or through a public-private partnership,” Raju said.

The PMU initiated in the Palike Budget - under the head of Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvarayya Infrastructure Development Plan - will try to provide ideas besides identifying various aspects of projects that can ensure revenue for civic agencies. It will also oversee the quality of the work and the timely implementation of the projects. It will help civic agencies and the State Government enter into MoU with other public or private sector units to execute public works.

It is learnt that the PMU was proposed at a recent meeting organised at the consulting panel consisting of Dr K V Raju, Mayor S K Nataraj, BBMP Chief Accounts Officer and BBMP Engineer-in-Chief. The panel decided that the PMU will have experts from Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka Limited (iDeCK) who will initiate more revenue generating programmes.

“The main aim of the PMU in this case would be to ensure that the unit does not eat into the BBMP revenues but generate funds from outside, by way of its own indigenous projects,” said a BBMP source. The PMU functioning will be overseen by the Special Commissioner assigned from the BBMP, added the sources.

Contractors pay for delay

What is common between three grade separators at Kadirenahalli, Puttenahalli and Tagore Circle? All the three projects were so much behind schedule, the lackadaisical Palike was upset enough to levy hefty penalties on them.

Palike authorities have so far levied a penalty of Rs 1.05 crore on the contractor constructing Puttenahalli underpass. The cost of the project given to a construction company on turn-key basis is Rs 23 crore. Contractor of the Kadirenahalli underpass was recently fined Rs six lakh,  The penalty is the sixth he has been slapped with.

He has paid so far Rs 55 lakh. The contractor for Tagore Circle Underpass, where the work commenced a year ago, recently received his penalty notice for Rs 15 lakh for delay in the work, said the BBMP sources.