MCD's CWG plan goes down the drain

Much touted coffee shop-cum-toilet complex project has run into trouble

Another grand CWG plan bites the dust. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's much touted coffee shop-cum-toilet complex project is unlikely to see the light of day. One such complex built at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg was razed on Wednesday by the civic agency.

MCD had earlier said that 250 of these facilities would be ready before the commencement of the Games. However, the civic agency now claims that this was not at all a CWG-related project.
The scheme has been shrouded in controversy since its inception and while seven such complexes had been constructed till date, they are unlikely to be opened to public anytime soon.

According to the MCD, since the company constructing the toilet complex at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg did not participate in the financial and technical bid, therefore, the structure had to be demolished.

A senior official said: "When we invited tenders for this project, we had given companies 30 days to construct a live model before it would be examined by an expert committee. The sites were allotted to around 28 companies. Out of them, 20 did not even begin construction, while the firm handling the site at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg partially constructed the toilet complex and did not come forward to participate in the financial and technical bid. In such a scenario, we had to go ahead and demolish the complex."

The RWAs had protested against the project claiming that prime land in market areas was being offered at throwaway prices.

The associations had also alleged that it was not just a big scam but would create congestion in areas like Greater Kailash where land meant for parking has been allotted for the project.

After a number of residents and MCD councillors raised objections over the project, many companies had backed out from pursuing them. Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna had also asked the MCD to review the viability of the project.

Leader of Opposition in the MCD Subhash Arya said the project does not have anything to do with the Games. "We have created a committee to review the eight complexes that have been constructed so far. The panel will take a decision on whether we should go ahead with the project or not and if the existing complexes should be opened to the public," he said adding that the committee will take a final decision on this.

PIPE DREAM
MiD DAY had reported in March the MCD's plans of producing aesthetically pleasing public conveniences that were to be constructed and managed by corporate houses on their premises. Fast food giants like McDonald's and Wimpy's were reportedly approached for the scheme. The MCD had also directed the operators interested in constructing the new toilets to maintain the existing rates of Re 1 at urinals and Rs 2 at lavatories. Contracted companies needed to have a Rs 300-cr annual turnover.