AHMEDABAD: With the state assembly election later this year, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is expecting a series of inaugurations, ground-breaking ceremonies, ribbon cuttings and election-related programmes to be organized at a feverish pace.
One of the main ingredients of such functions is temporary lighting. On Wednesday, the roads and buildings committee put forth a proposal to award a contract for temporary lighting for all AMC functions at a record 80% lower than the base rate.
"The tenders were issued for a flat Rs 90 lakh, which was 79.79% lower than the estimated base rate for the lighting work. This is the lowest rate in several decades for all municipal works awarded through the tendering process," said a senior member of the roads and building committee.
The member also said that since the contractor buys the electrical equipment, including lighting, the latter usually pays only for labour while the equipment remains the same.
"Last year we contracted the lighting work at the Sabarmati riverfront to an agency at 72% lower than the estimated base rate, while in previous years it was contracted at a a 66.52% lower rate," the committee member said.
The proposal ratified by the roads and building committee will be taken up by the standing committee for approval in the coming week.
