CHENNAI: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities and corruption amounting to Rs 700 crore in the awarding of the Thiruvanmiyur Uthandi elevated road project in Chennai, after the Madras High Court imposed an interim stay on the contract.
The DMK government's decision to award the contract for constructing a four-lane elevated road along the East Coast Road from Thiruvanmiyur to Uthandi to Hyderabad-based KNR Constructions has come under severe criticism.
The project, estimated at Rs 2,100 crore, was stayed by a division bench of the Madras High Court following a petition filed by Madhya Pradesh-based Dilip Buildcon.
According to Anbumani, Dilip Buildcon had submitted a bid nearly Rs 700 crore lower than KNR Constructions, but was allegedly disqualified at the technical evaluation stage without valid reasons.
He alleged that the tender process was deliberately manipulated to favour KNR Constructions, including repeated postponement of the technical bid opening to allow the company to meet eligibility criteria.
Anbumani also alleged that KNR Constructions has received a majority of highway projects worth hundreds of crores during the DMK regime, raising serious questions about collusion and favouritism.
He accused the ruling party of rushing to finalise contracts without financial allocation, allegedly to mobilise funds for election expenses.
Stating that the alleged corruption cannot be ignored, Anbumani urged the Tamil Nadu government to order a CBI investigation to bring out the truth behind the tender process.