Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is set to hand over the task of sopo fee collection to a private contractor from January, aiming to streamline the process and boost revenue. This move comes after months of departmental collection, which has been criticised for declining revenues and inefficiencies.
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Following the tender process, the civic body received three bids, of which one was disqualified due to incomplete documentation. The remaining two bidders proposed amounts of Rs 85 lakh and Rs 81 lakh, respectively, for the 12-month
contract. The MMC has decided to award the contract to the
highest bidder.
While speaking to the media, MMC Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz explained that the repeated delays in finalising the tender had been caused by various administrative hurdles. “The highest bid, amounting to Rs 85 lakh, has been found to be in order. We will award the sopo collection contract accordingly,” Vaz stated. He also emphasised the need to ensure smooth implementation of the new system in the coming year.
The decision marks a significant shift from the current practice, where the municipal department collects sopo fees directly. The declining revenues over recent months have been a source of concern for the council and the public, prompting calls for a more efficient system.
The tender process, completed recently, saw one of the three bids rejected due to missing documents. Vaz confirmed that after thorough evaluation, the MMC deemed the highest bid satisfactory. “This contract will ensure better revenue collection and accountability,” he added.
The new contractor will take over sopo fee collection for the entire commercial capital for the next calendar year.
