Kalam memorial devoid of basic amenities over payment issue

The memorial was built by the DRDO and initially a sum of Rs 50 crore was allotted for it. It was built in two phases. In the first phase, an exhibition on Kalam, his findings and the beautification of his burial place were carried out and for it, Rs 15 crore was allotted initially. However, as the work proceeded, a further Rs 10 crore was added to the first phase. 

In the second phase, a knowledge centre was to be constructed though the work for it was yet to begin. 

However, even after nine months of inauguration of the memorial, it does not possess proper toilet facilities though thousands of tourists visit the memorial on a daily basis. Because of the absence of proper toilet facilities, tourists were inconvenienced a lot.

Initially, the tourists had demanded toilets in the memorial and construction work too had started but the work was incomplete and there was no sign of it being restarted. 

Recently, a group of subcontractors filed a police complaint claiming they were not paid money for the work that they undertook at the memorial and demanded action against the New Delhi-based company that had awarded them the contract. 

Speaking to DT Next, a contractor said the Delhi firm had split the work and awarded sub-contracts to around 10 outfits in Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram and Madurai. However, none of the them were paid. The sub-contractors carried out the work with only a 5 per cent margin, though they incurred heavy losses. Due to the pending payment, work, including construction of toilets, was pending. 

However, DRDO officials said the agreed amount had been already paid to the Delhi-based company.