The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Danapith fire station project took 50 months to complete against a planned timeline of 24 months, prompting the civic body’s Road Committee to seek explanations for the delay and a demand for higher project costs, Sandesh reported on October 21.
The project involved renovation and construction work at the Danapith fire station under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. According to the report, the work exceeded its scheduled completion period by about 26 months, taking more than twice the time originally allotted.
After the delay, officials sought approval for an extension of the project timeline and a price escalation. The request reportedly cited an opinion from the project consultant, who had recommended granting additional time. The proposal has now become the subject of scrutiny in the Road Committee.
The committee’s chairperson questioned how the project was allowed to continue for so long beyond its prescribed deadline and sought clarity on the responsibility for the delay. The committee also asked which authority or official would be accountable for the additional cost arising from the extended construction period.
A key issue before the committee is the reported increase in the prices of steel and iron during the delayed period. Officials sought approval for the higher costs, but the committee questioned whether the civic body should bear the escalation if it resulted from an avoidable delay in execution.
The Road Committee did not accept the consultant’s opinion as sufficient for deciding the matter. Instead, it directed that an official opinion from the responsible Deputy Municipal Commissioner should be submitted. The direction is intended to establish responsibility for the delay before any decision is taken on the time extension or additional payment.
The report does not provide the project’s original contract value, the amount of the proposed escalation, the contractor’s name, or the specific reasons for the 26-month delay. It also does not state whether the committee has taken a final decision on the payment request.
The next step is for the responsible Deputy Municipal Commissioner to submit an official explanation and opinion on the delay, the requested extension and the proposed increase in costs. The Road Committee is expected to consider those details while determining responsibility and deciding how to proceed with the escalation proposal.
