Aurangabad, Feb 6:
The development works proposed under the ambitious Smart City Mission is being done under the guidance of the chief executive officer (CEO) and Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) municipal commissioner, for the past five years. The appointment of a new CEO of Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation Limited (ASCDCL), however, suddenly dragged into the news. In a sudden development, the state's Urban Development Department (UDD) transferred an officer from Nagpur to Aurangabad as CEO, four days ago.
The transfer of an independent ASCDCL-CEO indicates someone against the civic chief A K Pandey and does not want him to continue the post as CEO. Hence he got transferred an officer of his choice as an independent CEO, it is said.
The development works of valuing Rs 1,000 crore had been proposed under the mission in the city. Of which, works of valuing Rs 438 crore are completed. It is also hoped that there is a possibility to getting more funds in the near future. ASDCL would be spending around Rs 250 crore on the development of Wildlife Safari Park on 150 acres of land at Mitmita. As a first step, the AMC invited a tender to construct a compound wall and protect the area of the park. The estimated of the said work is Rs 11 crore. It is learnt that one political leader was insisting on awarding the contract to a contractor of his choice. When the things were not managed as per his wish, this leader vented his anger against the bicycle track. He did not even stop here. He contacted the influential senior leaders and through UDD got the transfer of new CEO of ASCDCL.
Meanwhile, the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and the guardian minister Subhash Desai visited the official residence of the AMC administrator A K Pandey on Friday. Hence, it is being assumed that both of them are in support of Pandey and would look into the matter on priority.