Mumbai:Alleging corruption in the ongoing Mumbai beautification project, BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha has asked the BMC commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
He even said that there is a suspicion that a trap has been created by some officials and certain contractors of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
In a letter written to BMC commissioner I S Chahal, Kotecha said there is corruption and ‘match-fixing’ is taking place on a large scale in some of the beautification works.
“In one such project, the Central Purchase Department (CPD) has floated tenders for the installation of street furniture across Mumbai.
But is there a need to spend money to buy street furniture worth Rs 263 crore from CPD? Because beautification projects cannot be implemented within the purview of the Central Purchase Department. The main objective of CPD is to procure equipment and medicines for the health department,” Kotecha said.
Moreover, CPD is not remotely related to such skills and experience. They have only one civil engineer, the rest are from the mechanical and electrical departments. “I wonder the process has been carried out to favour whom?” the BJP MLA from Mulund said.
Kotecha said that ideally, the Roads and Transport Department, which is responsible for these works, should have invited the tenders under the supervision of the Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects).
But the tender was floated by CPD without this happening so it is suspected to be a collusion between the contractor and the authorities, he alleged.
“There are many errors in this tender, what are the locations for installation of street furniture in the tender bid documents are not included.
All 13 different types of street furniture have to be supplied by a single bidder while the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) is Rs 5.30 crore to participate in the tender. And the models of this furniture are subject to passing the test from VJTI/ IIT Mumbai, even before this how come only the models of certain companies pass the sample test?” he raised the question.
Kotecha asked about the impartiality of the sample testing process. Also, the report has not considered planning and design guidelines for street furniture while Mumbai has a pedestrian policy. “Importantly, while the Mumbai Municipal Corporation is installing solar-powered street furniture, the furniture mentioned in the tender is outdated and not in line with the vision of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to beautify Mumbai.
Due to many such errors doubts and question marks are being raised on this entire tender process,” Kotech pointed out.
The BJP leader even doubted the three companies that participated in the bidding.
“Only three companies have participated in the bid, namely J. Kumar, Shantinath Roadways and VNC Infraprojects. Two of these are companies that have not previously worked for the supply of street furniture and have submitted only supporting bids. That means Shantinath Roadways seems to have taken care of how the company will win in this bid,” he said.
The MLA further added in the letter, “I can give a more in-depth analysis of the flaws in the tender of Rs 263 crore, I think this letter is enough to prove how this tender is corrupt, unscientific and for the benefit of a particular company. Therefore, I hope that you will realise the seriousness and reality of this tender, which spoils the beauty of the city and investigate it from the Anti Corruption Bureau.”
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
