Haveri
The state cabinet has approved the revised estimate for the construction of buildings for Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) and is considering the overall cost escalation. Interestingly, the cabinet has given the nod before the inquiry committee investigating an earlier revision submitted its report to the govt.
Even as a committee was set up and was looking into the estimates of four medical colleges, the estimation has been revised.
Along with HIMS, the cabinet has also approved the revised estimations for CIMS Chikkaballapur, CIMS Chikkamagaluru and YIMS in Yadagir even before the completion of inquiry.
As per the original estimate prepared in March 2020, the construction cost was Rs 365 crore. A sum of Rs 478.5 crore has been allocated for the project, Rs 365 crore for the construction of the building, Rs 85 crore for medical equipment and Rs 28.5 crore for other infrastructure. However, now the government has revised the amount by Rs 118 crore, with the total estimation for HIMS being raised to Rs 499 crore, just for building construction.
Srinivas, Assistant Executive Engineer of HIMS informed that the government has approved the revised estimation for HIMS building because the approved tender has not included tender premium, GST, and cost escalation. Initially, GST was only 12 percent, but it has been raised to 18 percent and this will be born as per the tender condition. However, the project has been delayed by 12 months, which can be affected by the escalation of material cost. Due to all these reasons, the estimation for the project warranted revision, which is why the cabinet decided to revise it to Rs 499 crore, he asserted.
