MUMBAI, Dec 30: The standing committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has rejected a proposal by the municipal commissioner to award developmental work contracts to agencies that are registered with the corporation.This means that Mumbaikars will have to put up with trenches dug up by utility concerns such as the BEST, TATA, MTNL and others for development works. Each year, starting in October, trenches are filled up by contractors appointed ward-wise by inviting a common tender.
Accordingly, the commissioner had prepared a Rs 22-crore `urgent business' proposal to fill up all the trenches dug by various agencies in the western and eastern suburbs and the city. However, when it was presented in the meeting last week, the committee members rejected it on the grounds that the contractors has quoted much less than the cost estimated by the corporation. Some of the corporators feared that the quality of the work is likely to suffer as the contractors had quoted much below the estimated cost.
Recently, the Bombay high court had passed an order that contractors quoting up to 25 per cent should be awarded the contract. The first lowest tender had quoted 22.50 per cent below the estimated cost. However, as the members rejected the proposal, the road department will have to come up with alternatives.
Chief Engineer K B Juriasinghani said that he has prepared a proposal suggesting alternatives and will submit it to the commissioner. He said,``This is an urgent business and will have to be taken on a war footing. I have spoken to the commissioner in this regard,'' and added that an alternate decision will be taken soon. An official of the department informed that the reinstatement of the trenches will initially cost Rs 22 crore.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
