PANEL FLAGS GAP IN SANCTIONED, AWARDED COSTS FOR NH PROJECT

NEW DELHI: The widening of National Highway-66, which suffered major collapses and cracks in Malapuram, Kannur and Kasargod in recent months, was awarded at 54% of the sanctioned cost, with the Kadambattukonam to Kazhakuttom stretch in Thiruvananthapuram awarded at about 22% of the government-sanctioned amount, the 33rd Public Accounts Committee report tabled in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday said.

- Soumya Chatterjee

Citing this huge gap in the sanctioned and awarded costs, the committee headed by Congress MP KC Venugopal questioned if the projects are being carried out as originally specified in the DPR and whether subcontracting at lower costs is affecting the quality of the work.