Rs 27 crore on 'image and look' highly inflated: CVC

"The scope of work and cost estimates were highly inflated. None of the bidders were meeting the eligibility requirements...One firm was favoured by the OC not only in award of contract but also in making extra payment to them for the art work which was already in their scope of work," the Chief Technical Examination wing of the Commission said.

In its latest report on irregularities in CWG projects, the Commission said that the Suresh Kalmadi-led OC has wrongfully moulded eligibility criterias in tenders to pave the way for certain private firms to help them make profit out of the projects worth Rs 718.33 crore that included ticketing, accreditation card work, purchase of fitness equipment and overlays.

The image and look work for the mega sporting event was given to a Bangalore-based firm and was coordinated by Sangeeta Welingkar, Additional Director General in OC.
Sources said the CVC has asked for a detailed explanation from the OC on its findings.

The image and look work comprise creative designing of various products including signages, communications, exhibitions, spaces in and around stadia, public display systems and flexes among others.

"564 tickets of Rs 50,000 denomination for opening/closing ceremonies were sold at Rs 5,000 each without any approval of the competent authority. This has resulted in loss of revenue amounting to Rs 2.53 crore," the report said explaining flaws by OC in ticketing works.

The report said that the anti-corruption watchdog  has taken up deficiencies found in 26 works worth Rs 3,316.58 crore with the executing authorities for necessary action. Of these, six projects worth Rs 1,315.66 crore were done by Public Works Department under Delhi Government, four projects costing Rs 364.11 crore by Municipal Corporation of Delhi, three valuing Rs 221.22 crore by New Delhi Municipal Council and two each worth Rs 379.93 crore and Rs 105.80 crore respectively by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) among others.

The Commission has also found serious irregularities in two projects worth Rs 193.16 crore carried out by Delhi Development Authority and one valuing Rs 18.37 crore by RITES, a Government of India enterprise.

The renovation work at Hotel Ashok was carried out by ITDC at exorbitant rates in the absence of fair competition, the report said. It said that various civic and construction agencies have adopted to faulty tendering process and blamed them for high costs.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appointed Shunglu Committee has found serious inadequacies on part of top Delhi government officials and held Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit responsible for inadequate oversight in Games-related works, saying it has cost the exchequer dear.