Mumbai: Citizens of Kalina have alleged a scam in the beautification of a Rs 34.73 lakh traffic island on the junction of CST Road and Hans Bhugra Road. The fact-finding by the residents alleged inflated pricing as multiple items used in the beautification work did not match the items listed in the bill.

A group of engineers, lawyers, educationists and activists associated with Voice Of Kalina (VOK) advance locality management (ALM) has been fighting against corruption in civic works by visiting and inspecting new works carried out by the civic body.

It had highlighted corruption in the ‘Golden Gate Scam’, as reported by The Free Press Journal in November, after which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken action against an official.

VOK has now alleged a “suspected fraud” in the beautification work of a traffic island on the junction of CST Road and Hans Bhugra Road in Kalina. The ALM had also written to the additional municipal commissioner of western suburbs Vipin Sharma over the alleged corruption and demanded an immediate enquiry into the work but are still awaiting action.

The activists had claimed in their letter to the additional commissioner that they couldn’t find stainless steel pipes of 65mm diameter pipes as listed in the bill but found 50mm diameter pipes with wall thickness of 17 gauge and 18mm diameter pipes with the wall thickness of 19 gauge. The activists have alleged that the cost of the work has been inflated by billing for costlier products whereas different products have been actually used for the beautification work.

The fact-finding report also alleged that the bill for the beautification work also included five FRP sculptures worth Rs 22.50 lakh but only one such item was found at the site of work whereas four of them were found to be missing. It alleged that the final bill submitted by the contractor is as per the work order not as per the government procedure of applying rates after measurements are taken.

Members of VOK have demanded an immediate enquiry into the “suspected fraud” and action against the civic officials and contractors involved in the act of corruption.