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Library project of Mumbai University delayed by 17 months

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Anil Galgali AV

Mumbai University, for its prestigious Library project had issued a contract worth Rs 24.86 crores in November 2015. Leave apart the completion of the project in nine months, delayed by 17 months, the project has been hit by cost escalation amounting to Rs 2.47 crores, as per the information provided by the University Engineering department to RTI Activist Anil Galgali.

Galgali had sought information from the Mumbai University about its Library project at Kalina campus vide an RTI query dated 24th March 2017. In a response, the Assistant Librarian, informed Galgali that, at present the Library is situated in the Kalina campus and it has 7,70,364 books. It further transferred the query pertaining to other works to the University’s Engineering department. The University Engineering department’s Chief Vinod Patil, in a response delayed by two months mentioned that, the construction of library started on 18th February 2015 and was slated to be completed in nine months.

The library building was planned to consist of a ground floor plus two floors and provisions for a reading department, study room, books section, E-Reading, Garden and other sitting areas in an area admeasuring 15,036.86 sq metres and could accommodate almost 450 students at a time. At the time of allotment of the work the estimated cost was Rs 24,86,30,125 only. The work period has been extended upto 3rd July 2017 and the cost escalation has been Rs 2,46,60,000 taking the total cost upto Rs 27, 32,90,400.

“Due to the delay in the project, lakhs of students of the University are forced to make use of the library which is operating from the old premises and is in a dilapidated condition thereby endangering their lives. Also the intention of the decision of a new library building and the cost incurred as of now remains in vain, which has further got escalated and which now needs to be investigated, “stated Galgali in a letter addressed to the Governor.

He further demanded that, the recovery of the escalation cost of Rs 2.47 crores and the risks of lives due to delay in the Construction of the new library be recovered from the Construction Standing Committee member, and since the Vice Chancellor himself being the head of the Construction Standing Committee, the VC and the committee members be made liable and the extra cost incurred and penalties for delay be recovered from them.

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