The civic body is likely to suspend around 20 of its engineers for manipulating the e-tendering system to help private contractors bag ward-level maintenance jobs.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expected to make a statement on the matter on Tuesday.
Group leaders of various parties were informed at an informal meeting on Monday that the civic administration has prima facie found certain officials had engaged in favouritism.
Staffers of the K-East (Andheri) and R-South (Kandivli) wards are among the officials who have been found guilty, some group leaders said.
"The administration has doubts that contractors were favoured in the case of 49 tenders worth Rs6 crore, and not Rs100 crore as has been suspected. We have insisted that the BMC inquire into the matter across all the 24 wards to check whether any other people are involved," said Devendra Amberkar, leader of the opposition.
The e-tendering system replaced the previous civil works contracts (CWC) process in 2012, with the aim of curbing corruption. Civil works contracts largely covered day-to-day repair works for roads and street lighting. All of it was paid for from corporators' funds.
In the online e-tender system, contractors who win contracts for works must also provide evidence of the work completed, only after which they will receive payment.
In March, some corporators alleged that the system was being manipulated by engineers to favour some contractors and keep others out. This was also confirmed by a report from the test auditor and vigilance officer (TAVO)
Members of the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP combine have also demanded that the guilty should be punished.
"The e-tendering system is supposed to be a transparent process and this is what the civic chief had said when it was introduced. We do believe that it is a transparent system. But it must be foolproof," said Manoj Kotak, group leader of the BJP.
Kotak said those guilty of favoritism must be punished. "If somebody working for the firm that is managing the e-tendering system is at fault, action should be taken against the person also," he said.
Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte, who attended the meeting of the group leaders, could not be reached for his comment.
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}