A day after the mishap on the Eastern freeway at Wadala, RTI activist Anil Galgali stated that the mega project has not been completed in January 2012 as mentioned in the tender, and its cost has increased by Rs. 41 crore. Galgali made his statement on the basis of an RTI reply he received, where he had asked the status and cost of the Eastern Freeway Route project.
“Though my RTI plea is dated March 28, 2012, the MMRDA replied to me only after four months (July 12, 2012). In its reply, MMRDA Executive Engineer J.R. Dhane claims that the delay of this project is due to various reasons like illegal structures on P. D’mello Road, Custom and Salt land’s official possession and High voltage underground line transfers.
He admits that the project should have been completed in Jan 2012 as mention in the tender. The work started on Jan 8, 2008 and MMRDA missed the deadline in completing the project. But now, they say they will complete it before Dec 31, 2012,” Galgali said.
He further added, “The project cost has increased by Rs. 41crore. I don’t understand why the MMRDA favours a contractor who is already a culprit of such mishaps and missing deadlines. Once a deadline is fixed, then it is the duty of the contractor to finish the work as mention in the tender.
I have demanded to the Chief Minister and MMRDA Commissioner to probe the whole project, because delaying a project has now become a fashion to increase costs, which benefits the contractor.”