Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has informed the state Assembly that the construction of the new Regional Transport Office (RTO) building near Subhash Bridge in Ahmedabad, originally scheduled to be completed within 11 months, has been delayed, even as the department continues to spend lakhs of rupees every month on rent for the existing premises.

In a written reply to two questions, the transport department stated that administrative approval for the new RTO building was granted through a departmental resolution dated August 29, 2019. The work order for the project was issued on September 16, 2020, with the construction planned to be completed within 11 months from the date of commencement.

However, the government informed the House that the work is still not fully completed, though the construction is at an advanced stage. The project has overshot its original deadline, and notices have been issued to the implementing agency by the Roads and Buildings Department from time to time regarding delays. The reply added that action has been taken against the agency as per the provisions of the tender agreement.

The government also disclosed that the RTO office is currently functioning from a rented building, for which a monthly rent of ₹12.98 lakh, including GST, is being paid. Over the last two years alone, the department has paid a total of ₹2,33,64,000 towards rent.

The delay in completion of the new building has resulted in continued expenditure on rent. Although the project was expected to be finished by August 2021, the work is still not fully completed, meaning the project has been delayed by more than four years. DeshGujarat