The Greater Chennai Corporation cancelled three tenders in its recent special council meeting. The move came following allegations of misappropriation in awarding tenders for laying roads, though officials cited technical reasons for cancelling the bids that were awarded.
Greater Chennai Corporation
Chennai:
The special council resolution stated that the tenders were cancelled after the successful bidders – Gurumurthy Engineering Enterprises, Annai Infra Developers Pvt Ltd, New Bharath Electricals and Enterprises, and K Durvasalu and Menaka and Co – failed to deposit security deposit and delayed entering the contracts.
Responding to the development, the Arappor Iyakkam, the NGO that had levelled allegations against tender processes involved in Rs 740 crore road and stormwater drain projects, charged that the Corporation was safeguarding its officials who colluded with contractors.
“Any contractor who bids for works will pay a security deposit. But the Corporation claims that the contractors failed to deposit the amount. This shows that the civic body has again colluded with the contractors to cancel tenders to safeguard the officials,” Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the outfit said.
The Arappor Iyakkam held a demonstration against Chennai Corporation and to demand the cancellation of tenders issued for work worth Rs 740 crore, on Sunday.
“We are sending a representation to Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan, asking him to clarify whether he would cancel the tenders and be accountable to the public or he is a part of the nexus of the politicians, officials and contractors. If he is not the part of the nexus, he would cancel the tenders,” he added.
The cancellation of tenders would affect the road works in Royapuram and Tondiarpet zones.
The special council resolution stated that the tenders were cancelled after the successful bidders – Gurumurthy Engineering Enterprises, Annai Infra Developers Pvt Ltd, New Bharath Electricals and Enterprises, and K Durvasalu and Menaka and Co – failed to deposit security deposit and delayed entering the contracts.
Responding to the development, the Arappor Iyakkam, the NGO that had levelled allegations against tender processes involved in Rs 740 crore road and stormwater drain projects, charged that the Corporation was safeguarding its officials who colluded with contractors.
“Any contractor who bids for works will pay a security deposit. But the Corporation claims that the contractors failed to deposit the amount. This shows that the civic body has again colluded with the contractors to cancel tenders to safeguard the officials,” Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the outfit said.
The Arappor Iyakkam held a demonstration against Chennai Corporation and to demand the cancellation of tenders issued for work worth Rs 740 crore, on Sunday.
“We are sending a representation to Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan, asking him to clarify whether he would cancel the tenders and be accountable to the public or he is a part of the nexus of the politicians, officials and contractors. If he is not the part of the nexus, he would cancel the tenders,” he added.