Yogi government: CBI probe into Gomti riverfront project

The Yogi Adityanath government has finally recommended a CBI probe into ‘irregularities’ in Rs 1503 crore Gomti River Front project. 

“Gomti River Front case has been referred to the CBI. We hope the CBI will soon take over the case and begin investigations,” said state home secretary Bhagwan Swaroop here on Thursday. 

An FIR had been lodged in the Gomti River Front case on the basis of recommendation of four-member committee headed by minister for urban development Suresh Khanna to suggest action against those indicted for irregularities by the judicial committee. 

Khanna committee that submitted its 11-page report had recommended that the state government should lodge an FIR and recommend a CBI probe into the project. The state government has already charge sheeted to two former chief secretaries-- the then chief secretary Alok Ranjan and the then principal secretary irrigation Deepak Singhal. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against them. Departmental inquiry has also been conducted against senior engineers associated with the project. 

Khanna committee has favoured completion of project with ‘minimum cost’ to make the riverfront project useful for the public. A fresh estimate will be worked out soon. 

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Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had constituted a judicial committee to probe irregularities into the Rs 1,503-crore project when he found that only 60 per cent work had been carried out despite an expenditure of Rs 1,435 crore (95% of project cost) on the project.

It may be mentioned that Samajwadi Party leader and former minister for irrigation Shivpal Singh Yadav had met chief minister to explain his point on irregularities in the project.