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Presentation on CAG's Bharatmala Pariyojana report to PAC

2023-09-08

A presentation of the recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' was conducted during a meeting of the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Congress MP Adhir Ranian Chowdhury, on Tuesday. This development has ignited a political dispute, with opposition parties alleging corruption in the awarding of the highway project's Phase-I implementation.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry countered the CAG's findings, disputing that the project's cost was exorbitant. They argued that the CAG did not consider the actual cost in their assessment. The presentation on the CAG report took place during the PAC's meeting on Tuesday, and the report itself was tabled in Parliament on August 10.

The PAC, comprised of selected MPs, is responsible for auditing the government's revenue and expenditure. Its primary function is to scrutinize CAG reports once they are presented in Parliament. However, during the meeting, opposition members expressed concerns regarding the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' report's findings. It should be noted that the report will not be immediately subjected to examination.

This development marks a significant point of contention in Indian politics, as the 'Bharatmala Pariyojana' is a high-profile infrastructure project with far-reaching implications.