Rail Ministry's Planning Mishaps: Millions Wasted in Parel Rail Projects

The Committee on Public Accounts questioned the Railway Ministry for delays and financial mismanagement in projects at Parel, Mumbai. Issues include adherence to norms, wasted expenditure on refurbishment units, and non-transparent tendering processes, resulting in stalled projects and costly mistakes.

The Committee on Public Accounts has raised concerns over the Railway Ministry's handling of the Parel projects in Mumbai. A report tabled in Parliament criticized the ministry for failing to follow norms in project tendering and site preparation, leading to costly missteps and delayed developments.

Central Railways' initiatives to set up refurbishment units were marked by excessive spending and a lack of proper site management. Contracts awarded for civil work were prematurely ended due to financial constraints and logistical failures. The ministry's decision to close the refurbishment unit and create a new passenger terminal reflects inadequacies in planning.

The report calls for improved transparency and adherence to procedures to prevent further wastage. The Committee urged the ministry to ensure clear site availability for future projects and questioned the lengthy approval process for the passenger terminal plan, demanding stronger accountability measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)