Rs.8 crore saved in ITI construction, says Kejriwal

An amount of Rs.8 crore was saved in the construction of an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in west Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

"The estimated cost of this project was Rs.24.2 crore while the construction work completed with an expenditure of Rs.15.9 crore. The net saving in this project is Rs 8.3 crore," he announced while inaugurating the new ITI in Mangolpuri.

He said that earlier also, his government saved approximately Rs.300 crore in the construction of three flyovers at different places.

"It is happening for the first time in the history that construction projects are being completed on fewer amounts than the estimated cost. We are saving money in every project," he added.

He said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is committed to provide quality education and employment to the youths.

Noting that every year about 2.5 lakh students pass out from class 12, of whom 1.25 lakh are absorbed in existing colleges but the remaining, most of them from poor background, fail to get admission, he said that the state government is considering expanding the capacity of ITIs in the city to absorb one lakh students. The projected expenditure is Rs.1,000 crore," he said.

Kejriwal also thanked his predecessor Sheila Dikshit for initiating the project. The foundation stone of ITI Mongolpuri was laid in August 2008 and construction was completed in July 2015.

Meanwhile Kejriwal was also shown black flags by some unknown persons when he reached the venue but expressed his surprise at it.

"Few people showed me black flags here. I do not understand the politics behind this. This is an event of inauguration of an ITI so people should be happy instead of showing me black flags," he said.