Pune: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has urged the civic administration to scrap plans for mega tenders for drainage and sewage treatment plant (STP) projects in the 32 newly merged areas. Instead, it has called for smaller, basin-based, area-wise packages.
Approval from the standing committee and general body, as well as the other authorities concerned, will be required,” said a senior PMC official. “It is a policy decision to make such changes to the tendering process.
“Issuing consolidated mega tenders worth Rs 300 crore to Rs 350 crore limits competitive bidding.
Such large-scale packages can lead to cartelisation and force large contractors to sublet work to local subcontractors at unviable rates, compromising construction quality,” said Nilesh Nikam, leader of the opposition in the PMC. Nikam said high-value contracts typically involve longer project timelines, placing a significant financial burden on the civic exchequer through price escalation clauses. “Splitting the projects into smaller packages could reduce completion times from three to four years to nine to 12 months, thereby eliminating additional costs arising from price escalation,” he added.