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Why Flyovers Will Fall
The coal secretary recently blamed the "5Cs"-- Central Vigilance Commission, Central Information Commission, Central Bureau of Investigation, Comptroller and Auditor General and the courts--for inhibiting quick and effective decision-making and impeding the country's development. The steady and continuing decline of the civil engineering profession in India has its roots in policies mandated by the Comptroller and Auditor General in regard to the procurement of consultancy services.
The collapse of a flyover under construction in Kolkata on 31 March killed 26 people and injured 90. The flooding in Chennai in early December 2015 killed 280 and what was inexplicable was how long it took for the floods to recede. These disasters, and many more in recent years, illustrate their common root: the decline of the civil engineering profession in India, and the evolution of government procurement policies in regard to professional services that initiated and now increasingly accelerate this decline. These policies encourage the appointment of civil engineering professionals who quote the lowest fee, not those who can deliver the best outcomes.1 Contrast this with the way one would select a doctor or a lawyer or a chartered accountant.
What Is Civil Engineering?
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