BENGALURU: BJP city unit spokesperson N R Ramesh on Wednesday alleged that the project cost of the 88-km elevated corridor project had been inflated by former PWD minister HD Revanna in connivance with a few officials.
He told reporters that 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 Mr. 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. The elevated corridor project stretching 87.87 km 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.
Tenders for the first phase had already been completed. The former minister along with the officials made sure only one contractor took part in the process and are beneficiaries of huge kickback.
Mr. Ramesh demanded a CID probe and the cancellation of the first phase of the project.
