Reporter's Diary: At Corporation, tender estimate includes expensive functions too

But the system is yet to see the light. Recently, an event was held in the Ripon Building premises to hand over the work order to a Spain-based firm to conduct conservancy works in the city. Initially, it was decided to launch the parking management system at the event. The parking management control room on the first floor of the Amma Maligai was also decorated. However, the minister refused to launch the system officially. Sources in the civic body said that the minister wanted an ostentatious function in a public place for the launch of the system and refused to inaugurate.

A day before the event, Corporation officials reportedly instructed the contractor to spend money to decorate the control room. As the minister wanted a big function, the onus of spending fell on the contractor. The incident results in one question: Does the estimation during the bidding process involve expenses of organising launch functions too? Parking management system project is continuously struggling to take off as the lack of coordination between departments delayed to create parking spaces on the roads.