As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was planning to outsource the task of maintaining the open spaces, which it is planning to take over from the private parties, it has come to light that
As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was planning to outsource the task of maintaining the open spaces, which it is planning to take over from the private parties, it has come to light that contractors have offered very low bids for the upkeep of other plots in the city. This has again raised question marks over the quality of maintenance works of city open spaces.
According to civic officials, the civic body had issued tenders for the maintenance and development of 152 playgrounds and open spaces across the city for a period of three and half years. The BMC has received bids in the range of below 62 to 78 percent from 19 contractors for these works.
Taking objection to this, the Congress has written to BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta, asking him to cancel the tenders. Opposition leader Devendra Amberkar said that the contractors have bid almost 78% below estimate cost of the work. In H-East ward, for example, the contractor has quoted 59.55 % below the tender amount.
“If such contractors are given the job, how will they carry out the work at such low prices Their works would be highly questionable,” said Mr Amberkar.
The lack of manpower has already forced the BMC to outsource the task of maintaining the 216 open spaces, which were given on the previous adoption policy and whose agreement is expired. The civic body is planning to issue tenders to appoint contractors for the maintenance of these plots.
“If that is the case, what’s the use of BMC taking over these open spaces ” asked Susieben Shah from the Malabar Hill Citizen Forum, which manages the Priyadarshini Park. “In a way, they are again resorting to privatisation of these plots,” she said.
