Completion of major projects now onus of Faridabad agency

The Faridabad Metro Development Authority (FMDA) is facing the challenge of completing some of the half-done projects launched by the Faridabad Municipal Corporation (MCF) and other agencies over the past years.

Taking charge

• The FMDA, which came into being about three years ago, to cater to the needs of creating and maintaining civic infrastructure here, has been assigned several projects which may have been handled by the MCF or other departments if it had not been set up.
• The vital projects which have been transferred to the FMDA include the renovation of the Raja Nahar Singh International Cricket Stadium, head office project of the MCF, Ranney well water supply scheme, construction and maintenance of the main roads (30-m wide or more), main sewage and drain lines and the East-West connectivity corridor to provide easy access between the two sides divided by the Railways and the national highway.

The FMDA has now taken over the work of the construction of the multi-storeyed headquarters building of the MCF, according to sources.

The FMDA, which came into being about three years ago, to cater to the needs of creating and maintaining civic infrastructure here, has been assigned several projects which may have been handled by the MCF or other departments if it had not been set up.

The vital projects which have been transferred to the FMDA include the Raja Nahar Singh International Cricket Stadium, head office project of the MCF, Ranney well water supply scheme, construction and maintenance of the main roads (30-m wide or more), main sewage and drain lines and the East-West connectivity corridor to provide easy access between the two sides divided by the Railways and the national highway.

According to officials, the work of the construction of the headquarters building of the MCF in Sector 12 is the latest project to be handed over to the agency. The project had been lying incomplete despite spending an amount of over Rs 40 crore. With a demand of additional funds having been made to the state government, it remained stuck for long due to certain hiccups, including a pending inquiry, claimed the sources.

The FMDA had taken over the Rs 222-crore project of the renovation of the stadium last year. Its work has also been held up on account of similar problems, including the sanction of additional funds, it was claimed.

The third major task which has been assigned to the FMDA and is waiting to be launched on ground is the construction of the East-West corridor to provide signal-free connectivity between the East and West parts of the city. It was earlier conceived and prepared with the involvement of the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran and the Public Works Department.

The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 1,550 crore. The FMDA has also the onus of renovating and maintaining the sewage and drainage system, which had been with the MCF till last year.

Besides, the responsibility of the operation and augmentation of the Ranney well water supply, which provides around 70 per cent of drinking water, and the construction and upkeep of all the main roads has been taken over by the FMDA.

“The MCF has now been left with the work of cleanliness, as all major projects have been transferred to the FMDA,” said Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer, MCF.