BMC goes online for bidding process in road projects

This decision will reduce corruption by protecting the identity of contractor

In response to the 'Confidential letter' that Mumbai’s Mayor Snehal Ambekar wrote to BMC chief Ajoy Mehta pointing towards corruption among contractors of road work, the municipal commissioner decided on Tuesday, to digitize their procedure for tender bidding. He took this decision in a bid to reduce corruption by protecting the identity of the contractor and tackle the contractor-official nexus and prevent lobbying for the contract.

Also, Mehta has made it mandatory for every contractor appointed by the BMC to appoint a quality control engineer. The contractor will have to appoint one engineer of the cost of the project he has undertaken falls between Rs 25 crore to Rs 50 crore. He will have to appoint two engineers where the cost ranges between Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore. Also, for projects above Rs 100 crore, the contractor will have to appoint an additional engineer to look over the work.

Moreover, this official will also be responsible for any discrepancies that are found in the road work and will be termed co-offender during all action initiated by the municipal commissioner.

Until now, the contractors had to pay an earnest money deposit and an additional security deposit and submit a copy to the civic body. This will no more be required.

Mehta has instructed the Disaster Management Department, which is responsible for digitisation in the civic body, to ensure that no glitches occur during the online tendering process.