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The Home Ministry is planning to seek an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the process of awarding a contract for its PPP housing project.
The housing project is a part of the Budget announcement which said “The Government proposes to launch a massive programme of housing to create one lakh dwelling units for Central Para-Military Forces personnel.”
The houses will be built in five phases spread over 15 years. The project is estimated to have investment over Rs 30,000 crore. The contract is to be awarded for the first phase.
“Our effort is to plug loopholes, if any, even before awarding the contract. That is why we are going for stage audit by the third party,” a senior Government official told Business Line .
Once the CAG gives its final report, the Ministry will make changes in the process, if required, and then send to the Cabinet for awarding the contract, the official added.
The Ministry official also said that the result of the stage audit will be kept in mind while finalising the process for the second phase. The Ministry is awaiting the Planning Commission nod for the second phase.
The Ministry has already identified the lowest bidder on the basis of expression of interest for the first phase of 11,000 houses. The investment is approximately Rs 5,000 crore.
The private sector is required to invest in construction and also maintain the houses. The Government will repay it gradually.
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