Pipeline delays trauma centre, jacks up cost

The Trauma Centre at Jogeshwari planned by the civic administration has been delayed by almost an year leading to a Rs 14-crore cost escalation. The delay was attributed to a misjudgement by the private consultant appointed for the Rs 106-croreproject.

It was expected to be completed last year and now be ready only by September. The consultant had apparently failed to trace an underground pipeline at site, officials said.

The civic officials have found a 1,200-mm diameter underground pipeline where the hospital basement will be located.

The consultant did not know about the pipeline at the plot. It was not possible to shift the water main as the plot is small. The pipeline bursting and posing a risk to the building in future was cannot be ruled out, said a senior civic official.

The BMC will levy a penalty on the consultant. "The construction is now being carried out in a way that repairs can be carried out without causing much damage to the building. We have decided to construct a wall around the pipeline for safety measures but this is leading to delay and increase in the project cost,' said city engineer, Jeevan Patgaonkar.

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