More seriousness needed while appointing contractors

Corporators claimed that a host of issues are ailing road works in Mumbai. File pic

After terminating the contract for south Mumbai's road concretisation, the BMC has decided to call for fresh tenders and choose a contractor shortly. While former corporators have welcomed the move, they have also demanded more action against the corporator and in the tendering process.

The BMC had appointed the contractor for the concretisation of roads in South Mumbai on January 23 this year. However, no work has been started till today. Now, a new contractor will be finalised within three weeks for the contract worth Rs 1,687 crore.

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 are there to be adhered to, rather than be eternally stretched with nobody blinking an eyelid as work is delayed by two-three years. A cynical citizenry watches in disgust as the time rolls by. With this action, we are at least seeing that there has been some accountability. Now, the next contractor must know that he will be under scrutiny for all aspects.

For a few years now, there has been a move to blacklist some contractors. Every now and then, we have reports about some blacklisted contractors being awarded tenders or working on some infra project.
What this city needs is more transparency right from the top.

The contractor rigmarole has become some kind of joke. We want to see contractors constantly on their toes, deadlines to be met and work done, so that the public can benefit, money is not wasted. This has come right from the top, let this precedent now set a new benchmark.