The AMC has proposed to award the contract for the first phase of the Bhadra Fort revitalisation project to a contractor who has failed to honour deadlines set for completion of other projects.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has proposed to award the contract for the first phase of the Bhadra Fort revitalisation project to MS Khurana Engineering Ltd, a decision that has irked the opposition as the contractor has failed to honour deadlines set for completion of other AMC projects.
Moreover, in October 2010, the municipal commissioner had proposed not to award any contract to Khurana for two years.
The project for Bhadra Fort revitalisation and development of surrounding areas was approved under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with Rs94.39 crore being the project cost. The civic body invited tenders for development of the Bhadra Plaza in the first phase.
Khurana emerged as the lowest bidder even though the contractor had quoted a 33.47% higher price as compared to the estimated cost. The commissioner tabled the proposal to take the decision of awarding a contract of Rs32.82 crore to the contractor.
The Congress has alleged that the ruling party is backing the contractor and the municipal commissioner has tabled the proposal under political pressure. Congress corporators Surendra Baxi, Mangal Surajkar and Liyakat Ghori issued a statement and said that the same contractor had failed to honour deadlines on the Sabarmati Riverfront and a penalty of Rs6.81 crore was imposed for the delay.
On October 27, 2010, the commissioner had tabled the proposal before the standing committee for cancellation of the contract of constructing 2,500 EWS (economically weaker section) houses and not allowing the company to participate in any tender bid for two years. However, the proposal was turned down by the standing committee.
The Congress corporators also said that the civic body has fixed the deadline of 12 months for this project without taking into consideration the hurdles that might be faced for taking possession of various existing properties in the area.
Ghori had written a letter to municipal commissioner, IP Gautam, for not postponing the agenda of awarding the contract to the 'dubious' contractor. During its meeting on Thursday, the committee postponed its decision on the agenda and the proposal will be placed before the committee next week.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}