Cancellation of Corporation’s Rs 730 crore tenders sought

Jayaram Venkatesan, the convener of Arappor Iyakkam said that there is clear evidence of cartelisation of contractors during the tender process pertaining Rs 290 crore road works and Rs 440 crore stormwater drain works. 

“We met the commissioner and demanded to cancel the tenders and blacklist all the contractors involved in cartelisation. The Corporation should reassess and float fresh tenders for the needy roads and stormwater drains,” he said.

In a representation that was handed over to Karthikeyan, the Arappor Iyakkam also sought departmental action against public servants who colluded, aided the cartelization of contractors and misused their power.

Earlier on November 1, Jayaram Venkatesan had raised allegations against municipal administration minister SP Velumani, Commissioner D Karthikeyan and others and picked holes in awarding tenders for relaying 1,000 interior and bus route roads at a cost of nearly Rs 300 crore and link missing stormwater drains at Rs 440 crore.

According to Jayaram Venkatesan, the civic body has floated tenders to relay roads that are in good conditions. “Although the Commissioner did not assure us of cancelling the tenders, he said that he would look into the issue. However, we will approach court, if the civic body fails to cancel the tenders,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan had already debunked the allegations as baseless.