The construction work at Mayur Vihar's Dilli Haat incurred "infructuous" expenditure to the tune of Rs 39.66 lakh, a CAG report has said, alleging "lack of planning" by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has also brought to the fore other such instances in which Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) has been accused of "lack of inadequate diligence and planning".
"Initiation of construction of Dilli Haat at Mayur Vihar in infringement of Supreme Court and Delhi Development Authority directions and despite refusal of change of land use by DDA in October 2013 and prohibition by UTTIPEC, resulted in infructuous expenditure of Rs 39.66 lakh," the report said.
"Without waiting for permission for change of land use, the DTTDC appointed three consultants for structural design, proof checking of structural design, and architectural consultancy in June, August and September 2013 respectively," the report said.
The DTTDC should not have financially committed itself by appointing the consultants without prior permission from the DDA, it said.
Citing another instance of lack of planning on part of DTTDC, the report said, "Inadequate due diligence and planning on the part of DTTDC resulted in avoidable delay of 12 years in developing 5.22 acres of land at Saidu-ul-Ajab village for stated use and wasteful expenditure of Rs 23.19 lakh.
"Besides, idling of investment in land means interest cost of Rs 1.27 crore to the DTTDC on blocked funds of Rs 1.79 crore with no corresponding revenue generation."