Irked with repeated delays in the streetlights installation project,handed to three private companies,the Delhi government is planning to approach the Central Vigilance Commission for an inquiry. The officials are also disturbed with the fact that several newly installed lights have already stopped working. The three companies Bajaj Electricals,Keshlac Shedder and Spaceage had been roped in to install thousands of streetlights by the Public Works Department (PWD). The project was to complete in October last year. The companies havent come up with a strong reason to explain the delay. We have pulled them up several times and given reminders but they havent delivered, PWD minister Rajkumar Chauhan said. After the minister spotted several non-functional lights during a personal visit,a team of PWD will be inspecting all the stretches where work has been completed to identify sub-standard work,an official said. The PWD will request the Central Vigilance Commission to inspect the material used by the three companies and inquire why the project is delayed,the official added. The companies are installing 10,000 poles with two streetlights each along 424 kilometres of road length. The PWD is to pay Rs 198 crore for the job. Chauhan said his department was considering to stop a part of the payment to these companies if they are found to have done sub-standard work.
