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Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said the previous AAP regime had ignored a Rs 35-crore out-of-court settlement proposed by the contractor resulting in Rs 175-crore court-mandated payout
**EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this image released by @CMODelhi via X on July 28, 2025, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with cabinet minister Parvesh Verma during a meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee, at Delhi Secretariat, in New Delhi. (@CMODelhi on X via PTI Photo)(PTI07_28_2025_000147B)
The Delhi government on Monday ordered a vigilance probe into the third phase of the Barapullah Elevated Road project after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta claimed that the previous AAP regime had ignored a Rs 35-crore out-of-court settlement proposed by the contractor. This had resulted in a Rs 175-crore court-mandated payout, she revealed.
Calling it a glaring example of “administrative negligence”, Gupta hinted at a possible collusion in the Public Works Department (PWD). Chairing a meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee on Monday, she reviewed the under-construction Barapullah Elevated Road project and has directed that the irregularities and payment of Rs 175 crore to the contractor be probed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).
“During the meeting, concerns were raised over the PWD negligence and the prolonged delays in the project. The chief minister instructed senior officials to ensure its timely completion, noting that the payment was necessitated because the previous government had prevented the company from executing the work,” an official statement said.
Gupta said “no further delays would be tolerated and assured adequate budgetary support to complete the project”.
“The chief minister called the project yet another example of corruption and negligence under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government,” the statement added.
The project, which had been scheduled for completion in October 2017, was repeatedly delayed and eventually went into arbitration.
According to government documents, the contractor had initially offered to settle the matter for Rs 35 crore, but the proposal was overlooked. Arbitration later awarded Rs 120 crore, which rose to Rs 175 crore with GST and interest after a high court ruling in May 2023. The sum was subsequently paid during the tenure of then-PWD minister Atishi.
The chief minister criticised the AAP government for “neither filing a review petition nor acting against the responsible officers”, adding that the payout hampered other PWD schemes. She pointed at the possibility of PWD officials being complicit in the irregularities, adding that their role will come under the vigilance scanner. The government assured that the investigation will not hinder the project’s progress.
ROAD PROJECT FROM SARAI KALE KHAN TO MAYUR VIHAR
The Barapullah Elevated Road (Phase-III) from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar was approved by the Delhi cabinet in September 2011.
An amount of Rs 1,260.63 crore was allocated for the project in December 2014. The construction work began in April 2015, with a stipulated completion period of 30 months. But the project was delayed, and the total cost is now estimated at Rs 1,330 crore with Rs 1,238.68 crore spent so far.
The elevated road will run from Barapullah Nallah to Mayur Vihar Phase-III via Sarai Kale Khan. It is currently awaiting permission for tree removal along the route.
“Currently, 87% of the work has been completed. Permission for the early removal of trees is expected soon, after which the project will gain momentum. For the financial year 2025-2026, Rs 150 crore has been allocated, of which Rs 86.43 crore had been spent by June 2025,” an official statement said.
While there is no clear deadline, News18 has learnt that the government is aiming to complete the project this year that could decongest the route between south and east Delhi.
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
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