Jammu, Dec 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked five persons of Konkan Railways and registered case against some private companies in connection with a scam of over Rs 3.7 crore in construction of Katra-Laole section of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line.
 Sources said that CBI has registered a case against DK Mishra, the then Deputy CE (tunnels) Konkan Railways, M/S NPCCL, M/S Nara Construction Reasi and Committee Members M/S GK Janal Deputy CE Kauri, Ishwar Chand Deputy CE Chenab/ Kauri, L Parkash Deputy CE HQ Reasi and ML Bhagat Executive Consultant (electrical) Konkan Railways for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy and allotting construction work at exorbitant rates causing a loss of Rs 3.7 crore to the state exchequer.
 The case was registered on reliable information that Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) has awarded contract for construction of BG single line tunnels on Katra-Srinagar Railway Link Project vide contract agreement dated February 16, 2004 to M/S National Construction Corporation Limited Faridabad on higher rates.
 The construction work was executed till July 25, 2007 of tunnel (t-3) which was thereafter suspended on account of some technical problems on the directions of Railway Board.
 In this contract the dewatering work was awarded to the same contractor at  Rs 6.457 per KWH in this way from January 28, 2004 to July 25, 2007 a total quantity of units consumed by M/S NPCCL was 384838.793 at Rs 24, 84,81. 898, sources said.
 After the suspension of the work Mishra then Deputy CE (Tunnels) during 2007-2010 awarded the contract dewatering to M/S NPCCL at Rs 54.40 per KWH, they said adding that from July 25, 2007 to January 28, 2010, 658386 units was consumed at Rs 3,58,16,198.
 This work was awarded without calling for fresh tenders as required under rules.
 Similarly from January 29, 2010 to May 31, 2010 the dewatering work was awarded to M/S Nara Construction a sub-contractor of M/S NPCCL at the same rates of
 Rs 54.40 per KWH and during this period quantity of 117000 units was consumed at Rs 6376500.
 Misra awarded this work of dewatering allegedly without calling fresh tenders.
 However, vide letter dated August 19, 2008 a committee comprising of M/S GK Jalan Deputy CE, Ishwar Chand Deputy CE, L Parkash Deputy CE and ML Bhagat Executive Consultant (electrical) Konkan Railways was constituted to analyse the rates of dewatering.
 The committee calculated the rates allegedly in an arbitrary manner at Rs 54.40 per KWH. These rates were hypothetically recommended and approved by Mishra and the work was continued, sources revealed.
 It has been alleged in the FIR that no fresh tenders were floated for the work of dewatering. Following adverse remarks by the higher officials,  fresh tenders were invited in March 2010 by Mishra in which the rates per unit worked out Rs 23.33 per KWH and contract was awarded to M/S NARA Construction. However, the allotment of contract was cancelled on some flimsy grounds.(GKNN)

Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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