Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Bengaluru, Oct 22 (IANS) Congress MP and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday supported Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s offer to repair roads in Bengaluru, but said the main issue lies in poor execution of public works and not lack of funds.
His comments come amid the ongoing debate between Shaw and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the condition of roads and civic infrastructure in the IT hub.
“I noted with interest the offer of Mrs. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw for the development of some roads in Bengaluru. A wonderful offer! Congratulations! But the problem in our public works is not the lack of public funds; the problem is in the execution of public works,” Chidambaram wrote in an online post.
Proposing a solution, the Rajya Sabha MP suggested a new model that places accountability directly on the supervising company or industrialist like Shaw to ensure timely and quality execution.
Chidambaram said, “Governments can change Mrs Shaw’s mind: public funds, tenders etc. can be followed to select the contractor. After selection, the contractor will be put under the supervision of an interested company or industrialist like Mrs Shaw.”
He further explained that under this model, while the contractor will carry out the actual construction work, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for the quality and timeliness.
“The contractor will execute the public work (say, roads). However, the supervising company or industrialist will be responsible for the quality and timely execution of the work. Any penalty or cost overrun will be borne by the supervising company or industrialist,” Chidambaram said, noting that cities like Chennai or Bengaluru could serve as a suitable testing ground for such an experiment.
Shaw, one of India’s most prominent business leaders, has recently been in the news after sharply criticizing the condition of Bengaluru’s roads, sparking a public spat with Shivakumar.
His social media posts questioning civic officials drew a strong reaction from the Deputy Chief Minister, who accused him of “forgetting his roots” and hinting at a “personal agenda” behind his comments – a charge Shaw later denied.
Later reports indicated that Shaw offered to personally finance road improvement projects in the city. Shivakumar later said that he welcomed the idea and assured them that the state government would fully support them in developing the roads identified by them.
Amidst the conversation, Shaw recently met Shivakumar, reportedly to invite him to his nephew’s wedding. However, according to Shivakumar, the meeting also discussed Bengaluru’s development, innovation and the broader roadmap for Karnataka’s development.
–IANS
sd/dpb