Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the public works department to file a report by Monday explaining the reasons behind the abnormal delay in the completion of her pet project Dhana Dhanye — a 2,600-seat auditorium in Alipore.

Mamata expressed displeasure over the delay during a cabinet meeting held at the state Assembly on Friday.

“She was upset as she feels that delay in carrying out projects does not send a good message about the state’s affairs. She sought a report from the PWD by Monday,” a minister, who attended the meeting, told The Telegraph on Saturday.

Sources said the Rs 418-crore project was kicked off in December 2017 and was supposed to be completed within 40 months. “But the project was delayed due to multiple reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and a crane crash at the site.” a source said.

Though the auditorium was initially planned to be a 2,400-seat structure, the plan was changed midway and the executing agency was asked to raise the accommodation level to 2,600 seats. “This has caused delay of a few months. Moreover, there was delay in getting land due to encroachment issues,” another source said.

Though there was no cost escalation clause in the MoU signed between the PWD and executing agency, sources said the chief minister was furious because work on the project did not gain any momentum over the past few months.

Sources aware of the development said Mamata did not want to delay any project at a time she was trying hard to draw investment to the state.

“She is trying to project Bengal as a place where investors could get their work done quickly and smoothly. Delay in government projects does not send a positive message,” an official said.