Delhi Government Eases Approval Process for Smaller Development Projects
In a significant move to accelerate development work across the national capital, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced that any project costing less than Rs 5 crore and funded by either the Delhi government or the Central government will no longer require administrative or expenditure sanctions from the corporation. This decision is expected to fast-track numerous smaller projects, particularly those involving road repairs, which have often faced delays due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Addressing Delays in Development Work
An official circular issued by the MCD's engineering wing on Thursday highlighted that the progress of development work has been "far from satisfactory" due to prolonged delays in approvals and tendering processes. The circular pointed out that these delays have been a recurring concern in review meetings chaired by key officials, including the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and other ministers of the Delhi government.
Projects sanctioned under various schemes, such as the Chief Minister Development Fund, Delhi College Development Board, Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan, and MLA Local Area Development Scheme, were particularly affected. Previously, these projects required administrative approval and expenditure sanction from the funding agency, as well as additional sanctions from the MCD. The new policy eliminates the MCD's sanction requirement for projects under Rs 5 crore, streamlining the approval pathway.
New Process and Enhanced Thresholds
Under the revised system, the MCD will now focus solely on technical sanction and approval of draft tenders for these smaller projects. The circular emphasized that many of these initiatives involve road repairs, which are crucial for reducing dust pollution and improving urban infrastructure.
In addition to waiving sanctions for sub-Rs 5 crore projects, the MCD has also increased financial thresholds for other internal processes to further expedite work. Key changes include:
- The limit for an executive engineer to approve the lowest tender has been raised from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
- The threshold for an additional commissioner to approve a single tender has been increased from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh.
- Other adjustments have been made for checking estimates, acceptance of technical bids, and extensions, all aimed at reducing procedural bottlenecks.
Goals and Expected Outcomes
Officials have stated that these changes are designed to streamline the entire process from project sanction to work award, enhance accountability among departments, and ensure faster execution of development projects across Delhi. By cutting down on redundant approvals, the MCD aims to improve efficiency and responsiveness in addressing urban development needs, ultimately benefiting residents through timely infrastructure upgrades and reduced environmental hazards like dust pollution.
