L&T construction work for Kaleshwaram project flawed; Congress blames sub-contractors

Hyderabad: L&T company is being pulled up for technical and design deficiencies in its construction projects of Pragati Maidan and Bhairon Marg underpass in Delhi, and the Kaleshwaram project (Medigadda Barrage) in Telangana.

The company has been issued notices by both Delhi and Telangana governments for ‘technical and design deficiencies’ in these projects.

The irrigation department of the Telangana government has asked engineer-in-chief (ENC) and Command Area Development Department (I&CAD) C Muralidhar Rao to resign. The department issued orders to terminate the services of engineer-in-chief N Venkateshwarlu of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.

Construction politics

G Niranjan, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) senior vice-president and chairman of the election commission co-ordination committee said, “The erstwhile Bharat Rashtra Samithi government should have removed them when the cracks in the piers were noticed in October 2023. The cracks of Medigadda Barrage show that the main contractor L&T has sub-contracted the work to those who were close to the powerful leaders of BRS. This issue was taken lightly by the BRS government and attention was not paid to it. The Congress government has taken the right step of removing the engineer in chief and initiating vigilance inquiry.”

Niranjan claimed that the inquiry has reported several startling facts of fraudulent negligence and irregularities on the part of officials and contractors.

What went wrong?

L&T is the main contractor for all three projects and they have been pulled up for technical and design failures. These are being viewed seriously as the company's work of sub-contracting and monitoring is at stake. Here are some points that sum up the issue.

Kaleshwaram

The total cost of the Kaleshwaram Project in Telangana is Rs 1.2 lakh crores.

- At Kaleshwaram Project, the sinking piers of Medigadda require concrete reinforcements which amount to a huge cost. The officials of L&T met the irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy for this reason.

- The Medigadda barrage repair works are expected to cost Rs 300 crores. The actual cost will be known after the completion of the vigilance inquiry by the Telangana government.

Pragati Maidan

The total cost of Pragati Maidan in Delhi is Rs 777 crores.

- At Pragati Maidan in Delhi the seepage of water in the tunnel has forced it to be shut down as it is inaccessible for traffic.

The fine imposed by the Public Works Department for Pragati Maidan in Delhi is Rs 500 crores.

Why are these projects faulty?

Experts stated that the timeline of respective governments and construction quality are the main reasons. The sub-contractors have not followed the guidelines and supervision too has failed.

With fines imposed, the parent contractor L&T is facing backlash from the governments and people. A senior construction engineer explained, “The cost of repair is going to be high and it will require constant supervision. As the design cannot be changed. What will now be done is only repairs and that too will be a recurring cost?”

L&T company officials refused to give a statement despite several attempts.