JAIPUR: The Jaipur Development Authority’s (JDA) recent tender for constructing signal-free structures at B2B bypass and Laxmi Mandir has come under the scanner. The civic body’s law wing highlighted the irregularity after conducting a probe based on an anonymous complaint. The state government has also sought a factual report of the case.
An official source said that the JDA has allegedly favoured a firm, which had submitted an affidavit with wrong facts, and set it free without imposing the penalty. Moreover, without inviting the re-tenders, the civic body awarded the project to a firm, which quoted the second highest rate to construct the project. As per the norms, a firm participating in the tender process has to submit an affidavit that it has no legal cases. However, there were cases going against the firm in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
“The tender for the project was opened on October 21, but there was a case registered against the firm on August 11. The firm hid the fact and as per the rules the JDA had to impose a penalty of 2 % of the project cost for violating the tender norms. But no action was taken against the firm,” said a senior official source.
The estimated cost for the traffic improvement and beautification project at the B2B project and Laxmi Mandir is Rs 148 crore and Rs 66 crore respectively. “The JDA has put a cap of Rs 50 lakh on the penalty. If 2 % project cost exceeds the limit, the JDA imposes only Rs 50 lakh. In this case, the firm had to pay Rs 1 crore for both the cases,” the source added. He also said that as only two firms participated in the tender process, the JDA should have invited tenders again.
“Despite inviting tenders again, a Rajasthan-based firm, which quoted the second highest price to construct the project was awarded the work.” said the source.
