Contract without tender: PCMC clears the air

However,Sharma said,“There is a misconception that work worth Rs 25 crore is being given directly to a certain contractor. This is not the case. The contractor was selected during the first phase of the SRP tendering process as his bid was found cost-effective. Now,at the same rates,the company will be constructing apartments of the second phase in the SRP projects. This means only the scope of the work of the contractor is being increased.”

A total of 692 flats are going to be constructed in the second phase of the SRP in Pimpri-Chinchwad,the cost of which will be upwards of Rs 25.5 crore. The same builder to whom PCMC intends to grant the project has already constructed a part of the flats in the first phase also. Given the firm’s “track record” in completing the projects in time,the PCMC has decided to give it the contract of constructing phase 2 of the SRP,officials said.

A total of 18,000 flats in six major slums including Vetalnagar in Chinchwad,Milindnagar in Pimpri,Udyognagar in Chinchwad,Vithalnagar in Nehrunagar,Ajanthanagar in Akurdi and Sector 22 (Ota scheme) in Nigdi are being constructed in seven storey buildings.

Shiv Sena leader Sulbha Ubale said,“The PCMC bid exposes the nexus between the ruling NCP and big business houses. On earlier occasions too,the same contractor was awarded a road building project which was abandoned by another contractor. Why are such undue favours being doled out to a particular company?” Congress unit chief Bhausaheb Bhoir said,“JNNURM is a good scheme,but the ruling party is using it for the benefit of certain contractors rather than the people of the city. There is total lack of transparency in which contracts are being doled out.”