Govt seeks World Bank loan for e-procurement project

NEW DELHI: India is seeking World Bank loan to implement e-governance project for electronically processing all the government purchases.

The e-Government Procurement (e-GP) project is being coordinated by National Institute of Smart Government (NISG) on behalf of Department of Commerce.

Work on e-GP, which is part of the National e-Governance Plan Support Project (e-Bharat), has already begun and the Hyderabad-based NISG has started the search for a consultant, sources said.

The consultant is required to make a detailed project report. As a pilot project the work will initially start in a few states.

The DPR will identify issues related to policies, technology solutions and platforms besides data security and services.

Since the loan is being sought from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the project will be implemented strictly as per the World Bank guidelines.

The government wants to enhance performance of its system for procurement of goods, works and services.

The government, being the largest spender in the economy, wants to tone up its procurement system and prevent leakages at different levels, sources added.