Team Herald

PANJIM: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Saturday demanded that the government withdraw a circular imposing a condition that the bids of road contractors, who quote 20 per cent more than or less than the estimated cost of a road project, would be rejected.

According to GFP, this condition would impact the tender processes as contractors can estimate as to what amount his competitors would quote for a project. “This condition will wipe out competition and reduce transparency in the tender process,” GFP worker said Mohandas Lolyekar said at a press conference on Saturday.

“The circular stating this condition – that contractors cannot quote 20 per cent more than or less than the estimated cost of a road project – was first issued in 2001. This practice was continued until it was withdrawn in 2007. However, a tender notice with this condition has been issued again for reasons best known to the minister concerned,” Lolyekar said.

“If this condition is withdrawn, the contractors will bid for a project according to their capabilities; and it will encourage competition,” he said.

To comply with this condition, Lolyekar claimed, contractors are using substandard materials for building roads.

“This is the reason why the roads start developing potholes or get washed way in rains within few months of their hot-mixing,” GFP Vice-President Durgadas Kamat explained at the press briefing.

“The government must conduct an inquiry on the quality of the hot-mix used in road construction and take action against those using substandard material,” Kamat demanded.

He also demanded creation of an agency to certify the quality of roads and maintain them.

“If the new PWD minister does not withdraw the circular prescribing the 20 per cent condition, he would only facilitate a scam that is comparable to the Bihar fodder scam,” Kamat warned.