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Journalism of Courage
AURANGABAD, MAY 12: Minister for Public Works, Nitin Gadkari, has cancelled tenders for the Rs 12 crore road construction work on the Dhule-Solapur Road following reports that Shiv Sainiks close to district Guardian Minister Chandrakant Khaire, who is also Minister for Forests and Environment, had prevented a number of outstation contractors from submitting their tender bids for the work in Aurangabad on May 5. As a result, just two contractors were allowed to submit their own papers on.
Gadkari has taken strong exception to the manner in which contractors from other parts of the state were roughed up and intimidated by Sainiks at the Public Works Department here last week, and has now decided to recall the tenders and invited fresh bids.
Gadkari told The Indian Express that his department, which is keen to ensure transparency in the tender works, would ensure open competition for every project it undertook. He has also urged contractors to draw his attention to high-handedness by rivals or rulingparty activists.
