Govt refutes allegations of irregularity in coast escalation

Talking to reporters here, Minister for Public Works C M Udasi defended the enhanced outlay for the project from the originally estimated Rs 259 crore to Rs 350 crore due to increase in building area and other works.

Tender for the project was called with an estimated cost for Rs 250.65 crore in 2009, but later revised to Rs 350 crore in the backdrop of constructed area going up from 12,617 sq mtrs to 16,138 sq mtr, a jump by 3520 sq mtr.

The revised cost was approved by the then Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao in 2009 itself as there was a proposal to build a Central Hall in the complex on the model of Parliament, Udasi said.

With the interior works and development of road needs to be taken up, the cost of the building could further go up by about Rs 20 crore, taking the total investment to Rs 370 crore, he indicated.

He said the government has drawn up a plan to develop 15,000 kms of state highway with an expenditure of Rs 13,363 crore in the next two years, Udasi said. The state has about 20,000 kms of state highway and with the bringing of 15,000 kms under renovation and upgradation, the government has ensured development of roads across the state. The Government proposed to spend about Rs 4,000 crore per year on development of these roads, he said.