MSRDC Faces Delay in Third-Party Scrutiny Report for Pune Ring Road Tenders
Pune, June 27, 2024: The issue of inflated tenders for Pune district’s ring road project persists without resolution. Despite three weeks having passed, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has yet to receive the scrutiny report from the appointed third party. This delay has intensified concerns surrounding the tender process.
The MSRDC is overseeing the ambitious Pune Ring Road project, aimed at easing traffic congestion across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad through its 127 km length and 110 meters width divided into East and West phases.
The tender process attracted twelve submissions from contractors bidding across nine phases of the project. In Mumbai, bids were opened revealing Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited and Navayuga Engineering Company Limited as the lowest bidders for six packages (three each). PNC Infratech Limited, Roadway Solutions India Infra Limited, and G R Infraprojects were identified as lowest bidders for the remaining three packages.
Several companies involved in the election bond scandal submitted tenders at inflated rates, complicating matters further. The issue is expected to be a focal point in the ongoing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Key Concerns:
1. Overestimated Costs: Scrutiny revealed bids 40-50% higher than MSRDC estimates, potentially increasing project costs by 1.5 times.
2. Delayed Scrutiny: The technical institute tasked with tender scrutiny has not yet delivered its report, despite the process starting three weeks ago. An anonymous MSRDC official confirmed the delay.
Initially projected at Rs 16,000 crore, the project’s cost has escalated to Rs 22,000-23,000 crore due to inflated tenders. Acceptance of these bids could lead to disputes, while re-tendering might delay the project by three to six months. Officials are grappling with the complexities of the situation.
