Infrastructure in Uttarakhand has taken a beating with most key projects in the doldrums.
Uttarakhand State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (USIDCL), took up a series of infrastructure projects worth over Rs 800 crore since its creation two years ago.
The problem began last year after the USIDCL began facing fund crunch, which delayed several key projects including the ambitious Naini Saini airport in Pithoragarh district.
Lately, there had been a clash of egos between the management and the engineers within the company. A fortnight ago, nearly 30-35 engineers resigned, following differences with the management.
The government recently removed USIDCL managing director M C Ramachandani as a follow up action to revamp USIDCL, set up in 2008 to take up all infrastructure projects where the investment is over Rs 5 crore.
The move to remove Ramachandani came after Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank expressed unhappiness with the working of USIDCL. He asked Chief Secretary N S Napalchayal to review the infrastructure company.
The government had also created the post of infrastructure commissioner but he was not given any mandate in the decision-making process of the USIDCL, making them almost two parallel organisations.
“Actually, the infrastructure commissioner should be the overall incharge of USIDCL. But it is not the case, which often leads to various problems,” said a government official.
The government has appointed PWD chief engineer Lalit Mohan as the acting MD.
Sources said the government was serious this time to revamp the company, as most infrastructure projects had not showed desired results during the past two years.
The sources said the government would shortly release funds to all those projects which had failed to make headway.
The key projects which had recently hit road blocks include the airport in Pithoragarh, medical colleges and flyovers.
