BMC Terminates Contract for South Mumbai Road Concretisation, Calls for Fresh Tenders
Key Highlights :
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a welcome step by terminating the contract for the concretisation of roads in South Mumbai. The contract, worth Rs 1,687 crore, was awarded to a contractor on January 23 this year, but no work has been started till date. The BMC has now decided to call for fresh tenders and choose a new contractor within three weeks.
This move has been welcomed by former corporators, who have also demanded more action against the erring contractor and in the tendering process. While this is a welcome move, there has to be constant monitoring about why the work is not started for any project, and every contractor must be given the message that he is accountable and answerable. Deadlines should be adhered to, instead of being stretched eternally with no one batting an eyelid as the work is delayed by two-three years.
There have been attempts to blacklist some contractors for a few years now. However, reports of some blacklisted contractors being awarded tenders or working on some infra project have surfaced every now and then. To ensure transparency, the contractor rigmarole must be kept under constant scrutiny. Contractors should be made to understand that they will be held accountable for all aspects of the project, including meeting deadlines and delivering quality work.
This move by the BMC is a step in the right direction and should set a new benchmark for other projects. The public should benefit from timely projects, and money should not be wasted. To ensure this, there has to be accountability from the top. This will ensure that contractors are always on their toes and adhering to deadlines.
