The CAG of India report, tabled in Delhi Assembly on Tuesday, came down heavily on the state government for escalation of cost and non-completion of infrastructure projects, particularly in providing housing for the poor.

Majority of projects aimed at providing housing for slum dwellers, under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), never took off during the mission period of seven years – up till March 2012 – despite getting a one-year extension.

The CAG report stated that only 86 out of the 10,684 completed dwelling units (DUs) could be allotted as policy related to the allocation was finalised in January 2011. Moreover, construction of 44,720 DU had to be dropped due to non-availability of `hindrance-free sites’.

In fat, the report said, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), an agency that implements Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) projects, a sub-mission under JNNURM, had used Rs 27.82 lakh from funds allocated to housing under JNNURM to purchase eight staff cars. An unwarranted release of Rs 200 crore to DUSIB was also made, the report said.

According to the report, Delhi government had received approval for the construction of 1,10,584 DUs, out of which 44,720 were dropped due to site related issues. “One project for 1,200 DUs was dropped due to inaction by DUSIB. Moreover, while work for 20,340 DUs was yet to be awarded, construction of 9,780 units were abandoned midway due to non-observance of norms under the National Building Code,” the report said.

Under Urban Infrastructure and Governance, another sub-mission of JNNURM, Delhi government had received approval for 30 projects at Rs 8007.68 crore. These projects mainly concerned roads, flyovers, water supply and sewerage system. Out of these, five projects were dropped as they were approved by UTTIPEC. One project of MCD and one of DMRC is yet to take-off, the report said.

The CAG report also found irregularities with construction of flyovers and subways between IIT and NH-8.

“Delhi government sanctioned three estimates of Rs 264.54 crore for construction of three flyovers, nine subways and four underpasses. The scope of work was reduced drastically as no subway or underpass could be constructed but the approval of the government was not obtained for reduced scope of work,” the report said. The Public Works Department incurred excess expenditure of Rs 35.03 crore for the construction of flyovers.

The CAG report found irregularities in the execution of contracts, such as award of consultancy without tendering, undue payment for price variation, extra expenditure of Rs 70 lakh in designing of a road, unauthorised deduction in the scope of work and non-levy of penalty in completion of works etc.

Earlier, another CAG report had noted that the estimated cost for the construction of the Signature Bridge over Yamuna had also gone up by Rs 672 crore, due to delay in finalising of estimates and tendering.