BSY orders inquiry into first phase of elevated corridor

Bengaluru: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiurappa on Monday  ordered an  inquiry into the first phase of the elevated corridor project stretching up to 21.54 km worth Rs 6,855 crore to be implemented by Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL).

Following allegations of corruption and inflated project cost of the elevated corridor project made by BJP city unit spokesperson and Yediyur BBMP Corporator N.R. Ramesh, the CM has directed Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar to probe into the allegations made by the high-level committee.

The CM has also cancelled the tenders floated by KRDCL for the first phase of the elevated corridor project works. He also directed the Chief Secretary to prepare a fresh action plan to take up the first phase of elevated corridor project.

Former PWD minister Mr  H.D. Revanna, IAS officers Rajneesh Goel, PC Jaffer, PWD secretary Krishna Reddy and Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) Managing Director B. S. Shivakumar with Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), Lokayukta and BMTF will be in the dock following this inquiry.

Srinivas Alavilli, co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru, said,”I welcome the news that the elevated corridor tender has been cancelled by the CM today. Back in March, thousands had gathered to say #TenderRadduMaadi. We humbly request the CM to completely shelve this project and focus on investing all our resources on strengthening public transport in our city because the lack of mass transport is what caused the traffic problem and not the lack of flyovers. This decision once again shows that when citizens come together and act collectively in public interest, governments listen to public voice.”

Mr N.R. Ramesh had met the Chief Minister at his office in person on Sept.9 and had filed a written complaint regarding this project with all supporting documents to prove his allegations.

 He had alleged that the project cost of the 88-km elevated corridor project had been inflated by former PWD minister H.D Revanna in connivance with a few officials.

 The project cost had witnessed a steep hike of Rs. 9,960 crore just ahead of the parliamentary polls which was enough indication of getting a kickback from the contractor and this, he alleged, was done with an eye on winning Hassan, Mandya and Tumakuru parliamentary seats.

Mr. Ramesh has lodged complaints against senior IAS officers, former  MLA R .V Devaraj,  former minister K. J. George’s son Rana George, Rajkumar Chellappan Pillai and others in this case.

The 87.87 km-long elevated corridor project was aimed at easing congestion in the city and providing seamless connectivity with highways.

He said initially, the project cost was pegged at Rs. 17,000 crore but it had been inflated to Rs.26,960 crore which is about 59 per cent higher. He alleged that it was a ploy to loot the money in the name of executing a mega project.

 The former minister along with the officials made sure only one contractor took part in the process and are beneficiaries of a huge kickback.

Mr. Ramesh had demanded a CID probe and the cancellation of the first phase of the project.