For the monsoon drainage and nallah-cleaning works within the limits of the Kothrud and Aundh-Baner regional offices, tenders have been submitted at rates that are as much as 51 percent lower.
Consequently, attention is now focused on whether the standing committee will approve these tenders.
A decision on this is expected at the meeting scheduled for today.
For the past few years, tenders for drain-cleaning work have been awarded at rates 40 to 50 percent lower than the standard.
It has often been observed that such low rates result in the actual work not being carried out properly. The municipal commissioner had promised to formulate a policy on this issue.
While this policy is currently in its final stage at the administrative level, a significant reduction in the tender process has once again been noticed.
A tender worth 8.4 million rupees was invited for the cleaning of stormwater drains under the Kothrud regional office.
The lowest bid received for this work was 51.39 percent below the estimated cost.
Aundh regional office has also received a tender at the same rate.
Shivajinagar-Ghole Road regional office, the 8.4 million rupee tender for monsoon drain cleaning came in at 45.11 percent below the estimate.
Some other tenders have been received at 35 to 40 percent lower rates. Attention is now focused on what decision the standing committee will take regarding these tenders.
Questions were raised in the standing committee over the low-rate tenders.
Normally, tenders for cleaning stormwater drains and gutters during the monsoon are brought for approval in April. However, since these tenders were submitted at rates up to 50 percent lower, orders were issued to start the work directly without seeking the standing committee’s approval.
After getting the work done through contractors, two to three proposals are being submitted in every meeting to obtain post-facto approval. Because of this tactic by the administration, the path for low-rate tenders is being conveniently cleared.
