CAG criticises Delhi Govt for 'special treatment' to DIMTS

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) today came down heavily on the Delhi Government, saying it accorded "special treatment" to Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System by awarding works based on nomination in violation of established norms.
The CAG, in its report, observed that despite the fact that DIMTS was operating like any other private company, the department of Transport (DOT) of Delhi government accepted the proposals as submitted by DIMTS, without any scrutiny for their reasonableness-either financial or technical.
The CAG also labelled the appointment of DIMTS as Project Management Consultant for civil projects on nomination basis as irregular in light of the Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) orders.

"Despite the fact that DIMTS was privatised in July 2007 and other government agencies like PWD, DSIIDC, DTC etc were available for civil works and project management consultant, the DOT continued assigning the works to the DIMTS on nomination basis which was irregular in the light of CVC orders of July 2007," observed the CAG.
Stating that DIMTS was created in 2006 and was "not the only specialised agency", it considered the civil projects awarded to DIMTS "not acceptable" adding that such works could be alloted to the agencies pointed above, especially the DTC, which undertakes civil works for bus depots.

CAG has specifically questioned the allotment of civil works regarding construction of bus parking depot at Sunehrinallah near Lodhi road and up-gradation and renovation works at ISBT, Kashmere Gate.
In its scathing criticism of DOT, the CAG also said excess payment of Rs 25.74 crore was made to DIMTS for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for seven corridors.
"Scrutiny of records revealed that the cost of preparation of DPRs, as quoted by bidders to PWD for seven corridors covering 105 kilometers, worked out to Rs 9.73 lakh per km. However, the DOT did not compare the rate of DIMTS vis-a-vis PWD, which resulted in excess payment of Rs 25.74 crore (Rs 22.27 lakh per km) to the DIMTS", revealed the report.