The meeting, specially convened after the Mayor-in-Council referred the proposal back for reconsideration to the committee, voted that one contractor be given two works each. Forty-four roads in the city, eastern and western suburbs will be concretised. Work orders are expected to be released shortly.

Earlier, the same committee had decided that one contractor will be given one job for the cement concrete road projects.

Ultimately, even Suhasini Parab, who handles the roads and traffic portfolio and was votary of the `one work-one contractor system' till last year tamely consented to a compromise. Her stand-off on the issue with Mayor Nandu Satam has actually delayed the work, which should have started early last month.

Congress corporator Baba Siddiqui initially raised a point of order bemoaning the ``insult toParab,'' as the issue of reconsideration was unprecedented in BMC's history. Once the resolution was passed in the committee on December 14, there was no need to bring the issue again, he held.

He said as per rule 69 of the MIC Act, the issue couldn't be raised again because 15 days had lapsed. Finally, legal opinion was sought, and BMC's legal counsel said the matter was being reopened by the commissioner under rule 36 (a), which authorises the commissioner to bring an issue in public interest to MIC, which may then appeal to the committee to reconsider its decision. There was no time limit on this.

Siddiqui said: ``The commissioner is being kicked around according to the whims and fancies of MIC members. Only last year, one road per contractor was an excellent suggestion for him. Now he's done a volte-face. They want to save Rs 46 lakhs, but they'll be spending Rs 60 crore now.''

As the opposition loudly jeered, Sena corporators wondered why such a hue and cry was being raised. ``Most of thecontractors are reputed and have earlier worked for BMC. Giving them two or more works will help them do the job better and save expenses for BMC,'' said Shiv Sena's Yeshwant Jadhav.

Congress corporator Suresh Koparkar said work had already been delayed by over a month. ``There will be a compromise on quality. Instead of rushing, the committee should retenderise the contracts and peruse them before awarding them,'' he added. A fresh copy of the proposal was circulated minutes before the issue was put to vote.