MARGAO: Parking woes of Margao residents are likely to be prolonged, as the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) on Tuesday decided to re-tender the work of constructing the multilevel parking building.
With the latest development, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardessai’s plan to inaugurate the multilevel parking building on Goa Statehood Day is unlikely to materialise.
A special meeting of the council was convened on October 12 at 11.30 am to discuss this matter, but it was decided to take it up Tuesday itself and Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai promised to discuss it with the four absent councilors namely Pooja Naik, Lyndon Pereira, Ketan Kurtarkar and Jose Fernandes.
She explained that the issue of the parking lot was discussed when Vijai Sardessai visited the council on September 4 and he had spoken to the Sangli based contractor who after meeting Vijai had agreed to take up the work.
“We had agreed to extend his validity that had expired and he had agreed to pay the performance guarantee but he did not turn up to pay it and subsequently through his engineer informed us that they are not happy with the rates and hence will not take up the work,” she said.
As the second lowest bidder has also refused to take up the work, she suggested that the best option would be to re-tender and informed that the tender document is ready and only follow up the PWD will be required.
As the council agreed to retender the Assistant Engineer was asked to submit the tender bid to the PWD tomorrow itself and get an approval from the PWD within 15 days so that the work can commence at the earliest.
It may be recalled that the foundation stone for the multi level parking building in the old fish market behind the municipal building was laid on 15th September 2015 and three years have passed but the work is yet to commence.
The issue of Goods and Service Tax also emerged and the chairperson said that the council will be reimbursed if it pays the GST as the tender has been invited without including the GST. After much discussion it was decided to award the work to the local bidder which is Green Globe Self Help Group.
Doris pointed out that this self help group was registered only on 6th September apparently because it wanted to bid for this tender. However Dr Babita refuted that and assured Doris that the mistakes in the tender document would be corrected while signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the party.
Dr Babita assured the house that the tender would be awarded after negotiating with the party to match the lowest bid of Rs. 490 per labourer as quoted by one party.
The council also decided to get the municipal building treated for pest control besides undertaking a fire audit of the building and also decided to request that the beautification of the stretch from Monte Chapel to Holy Spirit Church be undertaken under the MPLAD scheme.
