bmc: 150cr Bmc Tenders For Signages Across Mumbai, Says Rti Activist | Mumbai News - Times of India

bmc: 150cr Bmc Tenders For Signages Across Mumbai, Says Rti Activist | Mumbai News - Times of India

Representative image MUMBAI: RTI activist Anil Galgali alleged that BMC had floated tenders worth Rs 150 crore for installing street signages and directional signs whene the work can be done at half the cost if the BMC gets it done at the ward level. Galgali filed a complaint with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal asking them to scrap the tenders and save Rs 75 crore by awarding the work at the ward level.

“BMC has floated three tenders worth Rs 50 crore for the city, eastern and western suburbs for installing street signages. In these tenders benefits are being given to certain contractors who would create a monopoly and reduce the eligible bidders. Competition is required to break the connivance between municipal officers and the contractor and changes in terms and conditions of turnover are required,” Galgali said in his complaint. Galgali said that there was no need to spend a whopping Rs 150 crore on street signages.

“The collusion between the officer and the contractor will result in financial loss to the corporation and waste of taxpayers’ money. Non-qualification will compromise the quality of work. To avoid this loss, I have demanded cancellation of the tender. Also, instead of spending Rs 150 crore, allocating work at ward level the BMC can save more half of the Rs 75 crore. The tender has been extended twice by the BMC to favour contractors,” Galgali said.

BMC officials said that they had extended the tender and would examine the complaints.

In 2019, the BMC had announced that 13 key roads would soon get sign boards of international standards in a pilot project by BMC and traffic police; 12 of these roads were in the island city and a survey was commissioned to identify other stretches in the eastern and western suburbs.

Among the roads selected were DN Road, Mohammad Ali Road, JJ Road, Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, RA Kidwai Road and P D’Mello Road.