MSU ‘hurriedly’ floats tenders for Rs 50cr construction works

Vadodara: Fearing that the model code of conduct would come into force any time now with announcement of the Lok Sabha polls, M S University has hurriedly issued tender notices for construction works to the tune of Rs 50 crore.
It is for the first time that such large number of tenders are being issued by the university’s construction division for works ranging from construction of retaining wall along the bank of Bhukhi Nullah to installing lifts at various buildings in the campus.

Ironically, the university had received grants of some of the works, whose tenders are being issued now, before a couple of years. But there was no progress on the projects in all these years.

For instance, the university had received Rs 8 crore as grant from Gujarat government way back in November 2017 to develop the stinking stretch of ‘bhukhi nullah’ – the tributary of Vishwamitri river that passes through the campus.

Interestingly, the state government had released the funds before the model code of conduct had got implemented ahead of the assembly polls in that year.

But it is only now that the university has issued tender worth Rs 6 crore to construct the retaining wall – meaning in the last two years, the funds remained underutilised.

The tender worth Rs 3.97 crore floated for the restoration of main building of Faculty of Arts also has a similar tale after the renovation of the heritage building was left in lurch due to lackadaisical attitude of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which first did not initiate the restoration project and later drilled as many as 110 holes on the iconic dome structure.

As if the university is going to complete all the construction activities in the next two or three months of the polls, tenders have been also issued for minor civil and electrification works like water harvesting system at union pavilion ground and fabrication work of logo at the same ground.

Going by the tenders, three buildings of the campus including the textile chemistry department, the main building of Faculty of Technology and Engineering and the Institute of Fashion Technology (IFT) at Faculty of Family and Community Science will be equipped with passenger lifts.

Tender has also been floated for construction of sky walk bridge at IFT.