Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has suspended four East Zone engineering officials and ordered an FIR after a preliminary vigilance probe uncovered alleged irregularities worth Rs 81.70 lakh in a drainage and storm water line project.

The Municipal Commissioner ordered the suspension of Additional City Engineer Rajesh Rathwa, Deputy City Engineer Utkarsh Bhabhor, Assistant City Engineer Ramesh Baria, and Assistant Engineer Alpesh Makwana. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against them.

The action follows a vigilance investigation into the work of laying new drainage and storm water lines under the East Zone Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The inquiry involved statements from contractor representatives, engineering staff, auditors, implementing officers, site inspections, and examination of documentary records.

According to the probe, the contract was awarded to Dhruv Buildcon Pvt. Ltd., which allegedly sublet the work to Bhagirath Construction. The project had a tender value of Rs 2.92 crore, with a sanctioned amount of Rs 2.58 crore, while payments of Rs 2.40 crore had already been released.

Investigators allegedly found that measurements of a 1600 mm diameter storm water line recorded in the measurement book had been copied and pasted from an earlier Vastral ward project executed by Kevadiya Infrastructure, resulting in payments of Rs 76.17 lakh for work allegedly not carried out.

The vigilance department also found discrepancies between measurements recorded in official documents and those reflected in running account bills, leading to an additional loss of Rs 5.53 lakh. Combined with other irregularities, AMC has ordered recovery of a total Rs 81.70 lakh along with interest.

Officials also identified discrepancies in machine hole construction and billing practices, with an estimated additional loss of Rs 20.95 lakh under review.

AMC said no further work will be assigned to the agencies involved until the investigation is completed, and an FIR will be filed for a detailed probe into the submitted documents and measurement records. DeshGujarat