Road improvement tender worth Rs 494 cr cancelled

Chennai

According to a document from the department, the tender was cancelled due to administrative reasons. Only three bidders had participated in the process and the bids were qualified for financial evaluation.

Recently, Arappor Iyakkam had raised allegations that two tenders worth Rs 656 crore and Rs 494 crore were pre-fixed for particular contractors and pointed out that the same contractors had won bids.

“Also, the government should cancel the Rs 656 crore tender, as we had already pointed out the name of the successful contractor before the bid was opened,” Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the NGO said.

He alleged that the highways department misled by citing administrative reasons for cancelling Rs 494 crore tender.

“This shows prima facie corruption. Will the department secretary take action against the officials who had indulged in the misappropriation,” he asked.

Both the tenders were floated for Area-Based Comprehensive Road Improvement, Strengthening and Maintenance project in Tiruchy circle.

Based on an earlier complaint by the NGO, the State government had cancelled Rs 1,165 crore tender named Thanjavur performance-based maintenance contract (PBMC). The complaint highlighted the fixing of tender as well as good roads were selected for relaying and maintenance.