In a startling revelation that highlights significant financial mismanagement, a consultant was paid a whopping ₹1.18 crore back in 2019 for the restoration work of Chandigarh's iconic Capitol Complex, yet the project remains incomplete five years later.
The Unfinished Legacy Project
The Capitol Complex, designed by legendary architect Le Corbusier and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been undergoing restoration work that has stretched far beyond its scheduled timeline. Despite substantial payments made to consultants, the project continues to languish in bureaucratic delays.
Audit Report Exposes Financial Irregularities
According to recent audit observations, the UT Administration engaged a consultant for preparing detailed project reports and supervising the restoration work. The consultant received the massive payment of ₹1.18 crore during the 2019-20 fiscal year alone.
The audit report sharply criticized this expenditure as "unfruitful," noting that the substantial payment failed to yield corresponding progress on the ground. The restoration work, which was supposed to preserve and enhance one of Chandigarh's most significant architectural landmarks, has seen minimal physical advancement.
Administrative Lapses and Delayed Timelines
Sources within the Public Works Department (PWD) revealed that multiple factors have contributed to the project's stagnation:
- Extended delays in finalizing project specifications
- Administrative hurdles in obtaining necessary clearances
- Lack of coordinated efforts between different departments
- Inadequate monitoring of the consultant's deliverables
Heritage Conservation at Stake
The Capitol Complex represents a crucial piece of India's architectural heritage, housing important government buildings including the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Secretariat, and the Legislative Assembly. The delayed restoration not only represents financial waste but also puts the structural integrity of these historic buildings at risk.
"When public funds are allocated for heritage conservation, there's an expectation of both financial prudence and timely execution. The current situation satisfies neither criterion," noted a heritage conservation expert familiar with the project.
Calls for Accountability Grow
As the audit findings come to light, questions are being raised about the oversight mechanisms within the UT Administration. Stakeholders and heritage enthusiasts are demanding:
- Transparent investigation into the consultant selection process
- Detailed accounting of work completed versus payments made
- Revised timeline for project completion
- Stricter monitoring of future heritage projects
The case has sparked broader conversations about how heritage conservation projects are managed and monitored in India, particularly when they involve significant public expenditure.
