AMC takes step to ‘secure’ itself

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and premises of other offices of the civic body too will soon have tighter security, and even armed personnel will be deployed at some of them.

Following many incidents of dharna and attacks on AMC premises, the civic body had decided to improve the security system at all its offices. At the standing committee of civic body held on Friday, the committee finalised four agencies that will improve the security system.

AMC had earlier invited tenders for the same, wherein 16 agencies had applied. Of these, only four were eligible to qualify the criteria set by AMC of minimum turnover of Rs1.5 crore. On Friday, AMC has assigned the task of security to all the four qualifying agencies.

Similarly, the committee has approved the acquisition of government land at Railwaypura ward, where AMC will create a multi-storey parking. The civic body has decided to acquire the land, which was given on lease by the collector for 99 years, for creating a utility system for the citizens.

The committee has also approved the repair of drainage pipes through ‘No-dig technology’, the first-ever use of such technology in Gujarat. The work of repairing the 800-metre-long pipe will be carried out at a cost of Rs 6.25 crore over six months.

However, the opposition party has showed its dissatisfaction with the contractor selected for carrying out the work of repairing the drainage pipe.