Bengaluru: On receipt on complaints over shoddy works in Smart City project, Minister for Urban Development Byrathi Suresh on Thursday said to constitute an expert committee including an expert drawn from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru to investigate the quality of works initiated under Smart City project in the cities of Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Davangere, Mangaluru and Belagavi. However, Bengaluru city falling under the Smart City project has been excluded from the investigation.
The expert committee has been given a deadline of 3-months to submit its investigation report, said the Minister and the expert committee will have Urban Development Secretary, Managing Director of Karnataka State Finance Corporation, Chief Engineer attached to Public Works among others.
At a review meeting on the Smart City project. Suresh said he received complaints from elected representatives on substandard works under Smart City project and stated as much as 6, 415 crore has been spent on works under Smart City project but the works have not been executed on expected lines.
The Minister said the works under Smart City project have been initiated in the 50:50 ratio between Central and State Government and majority of the works initiated under the project have remained incomplete. The Smart City project will end in March 2025.
Instead of laying emphasis on smart schools, hospitals, libraries, bus stations among others, the Minister said officials concerned have spent huge sum of money on road construction, underground drainage, beautification of parks and others.
“Under the project, priority should have been to develop properties of the Governments and not to spend for roads and drainages,” noted the Minister and asked the officials concerned to focus on building smart schools with the remaining funds and also from the amount yet to be released. The Smart schools should cater to the needs of poor students.
