*Contractors allege malpractices in tender cell *
*Express News Service*<
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*Pune, July 12:* ALLEGING corruption in the tendering process of the Pune
Municipal Corporation, around 300-400 contractors barged into the PMC
headquarters alleging that the employees of the civic tender cell have
opened the tender packets a day before the actual date.
The PMC had issued tenders for 465 works under road, building, slum
improvement and drainage departments and various ward offices. While a total
of 1,300 tenders were sold by the civic administration 1,200 tenders were
submitted on the last day of submission on Wednesday.
contractor alleged that employees had opened the tender packets on the day
of submission itself. Irked with the incident, contractors in large number
gathered outside the tender cell on Wednesday evening.
Chief Accountant Ambrish Galinde who rushed to the scene said an inquiry
will be conducted in the alleged irregularities. He also said that penalty
will be levied on those contractors who purchase the tenders and do not
submit the tenders. He added that additional three to four centres for
submission of tenders will be opened soon by the PMC.
Babu Borase, president of the contractors' association, claimed that several
malpractices take place in the tender cell, adding that the PMC had set the
cell on BOT basis without consulting the association.