Shoddy research costs BMC `14cr
A consultant error has cost the BMC dearly in the Aajgaonkar Trauma Hospital project at Jogeshwari (east). The project has been delayed for a year, but its cost has also increased by `14 crore, due to the consultant’s failure to foresee the presence of an underground pipeline at the site.
The civic body had appointed M/s Sukhatme Associates as consultants for preparing the groundwork, estimated cost and tender conditions for this project. The project cost of Aajgaonkar Trauma Hospital was `106 crore and the consultant fee was five per cent of the total project cost.
However, when the construction of the hospital basement was going on, civic officials found a 1,200 mm diameter pipeline under the ground. The entire project schedule went for a toss after the underground pipeline was discovered.
According to civic officials, the consultant had no idea about the water pipeline running under the ground at the Aajgaonkar plot. It was not possible to shift the pipeline as the plot is small. The possibility of the pipeline bursting could also risk the building in future. “We decided to construct a protection wall around the pipeline to ensure the safety of the hospital building. The BMC will fine the consultant two per cent of the specific work cost that was necessitated due to the presence of the underground pipeline,” said Jeevan Padgaonkar, chief city engineer, BMC.
The hospital will be open for rescue and trauma services for the city in September this year.
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