Report reveals irregularities worth billions of rupees in Peshawar BRT project

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August 18, 2022

DG Peshawar Development Authority Fayaz Ali Shah says audit report is based on preliminary observations

A bus drives along the newly-built corridor of the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a rapid bus transit system running along an east-west corridor, during a test-run in Peshawar on August 5, 2020. — AFP/Abdul Majeed


PESHAWAR: An audit report showed irregularitiesworth billions of rupees in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project of Peshawar.

According to a report, over Rs47 billion were spent without taking approval from the law department. It showed that a consultant was paid over Rs90 millionas mobilisation advance.

The report also stated that an amount of Rs21.13 million hasn't been recovered from the contractor yet.

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"A suspicious amount of Rs3.6 millionwas made for petrol despite the suspension of work on BRT," said the report, adding thatthe BRT management paid Rs310 million as dues to the contractor and there is no record of it.

It added that about 122 trees were cut down near Dabgari Garden for the project. The trees worth Rs2.4 million were sold for Rs420,000.

APeshawar Development Authority (PDA) employee was illegally hiredas a resettlement consultant, who continued to receive salaries from bothBRT and PDA, said the report.

"The contractor was paid Rs50 million against rules without completing the construction work," it added.

According to the report, Rs7.3 millionreceived as taxes have not been deposited in the national treasury. It added that a "controversial board" was paid Rs6 millionrelated to the BRT project.

"The delays in the BRT project cost damages worth over Rs20 million while Rs300 million were paid to the consultants despite COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown," added the report.

Director General Peshawar Development Authority Fayaz Ali Shah, while talking to Geo News, said that theaudit report is based on preliminary observations and it will be discussed at the relevant forum.



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