A Government Resolution (GR) by the Government of Maharashtra's General Administration Department (GAD) dated December 18, 2014, mandates conduct e-tendering process for every purchase above Rs 3 lakh.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), which is executing the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 underground corridor, has hit another controversy in appointing a private PR agency without floating any e-tenders despite the state and central government making it mandatory to conduct an e-tender for projects more than Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh to maintain transparency.
Documents accessed by DNA under the Right To Information (RTI), Act, 2005, reveals that MMRC-appointed Genesis Burson-Marsteller, a public relations agency, to handle media and communications for MMRC by calling quotations and not conducting e-tendering process for the appointment. However, MMRC claims there was no breach of transparency in the appointment of the PR firm.
A Government Resolution (GR) by the Government of Maharashtra's General Administration Department (GAD) dated December 18, 2014, mandates conduct e-tendering process for every purchase above Rs 3 lakh.
However, according to the work order issued by MMRC to Genesis Burson-Marsteller, the appointment of the particular agency was of Rs 71.04 lakh, that is Rs 5.92 lakh per month for a period from April 2017 to March 2018.
The MMRC claimed that as it is jointly owned by the Government of India (GoI) and Government of Maharashtra (GoM), the procurement process followed is in conformity with GoI guidelines in respective fields.
"The PR agency under reference has been appointed by following the due process allowed under Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) guidelines to procure similar services," said R Ramana, executive director (planning), MMRC who awarded the contract.
"The PR and Media content management services being a specialised area, the agency's experience, capabilities to provide the required services and their approach and strategy are the primary consideration apart from financials. In the entire process there is no breach of transparency," Ramana added.
However, according to the norms of Expenditure Department of GOI, e-tendering should be done for every purchase that is above Rs 2 lakh.
Asked about the same, MMRC did not reply to the particular query. An email sent to Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRC and Genesis Burson-Marsteller did not elicit any response till the time of going to the press.
No response
As per the norms of GoI’s Expenditure Department, e-tendering needs to be done for purchases above Rs 2L
Asked about it, MMRC did not respond to the particular question
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