Signal free roads in legal tangle

Signal free roads in legal tangle
BENGALURU


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The tug of war Aug. 5: The tug of war between a former mayor and the BBMP over the tendering process of the seven Signal Free Corridors (SFC) is likely to further delay the project which would have gone a long way in easing the chaotic traffic situation in the city. The former mayor has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), challenging the tender process.
According to BBMP officials, the re-tendering process is likely to take a lot of time — at least three months — and cause enormous inconvenience to the public. They also claimed that the delay in completing the project, would lead to a cost escalation.

Cancelling the tender and calling for a fresh one is none too easy as the BBMP will have to submit

proper reasons for the withdrawal of the tenders.
The tender would also mean that BBMP was at fault while inviting tenders in the first instance, said a senior engineer at the civic body. Tenders have been invited for seven of the 12 SFCs.

Mr Ramesh however contended that there are procedural lapses while inviting tenders for pre qualification. According to him, tenders worth Rs 3,248 crore were invited hurriedly without following the procedures laid down in the Karnataka Municipal Council (KMC) Act and Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.

Mr R.K. Misra of ABIDe said the body had worked hard to devise the plan for signal free corridors. It was sad that the plan had been delayed for various reasons, he added.