The Indian Express 15.04.2013
BMC blacklists contractor for faking bills
BMC has blacklisted a road contractor for six months for submitting
fake bills. The contractor, which has bagged a road contract, has been
disqualified by the civic administration and can’t participate in new
tender contracts.
Mahavir Roads and Infrastructure Company was found using
sub-standard paver blocks at major junctions and submitting fake
challans to the civic authority. Swiss firm SGS, appointed by BMC to
conduct third party auditing and monitor the process and quality of road
construction work by private firms, found that the firm also submitted
fake bills to BMC by using pre-dated challans.
“It also evaded octroi of Rs 1.5 lakh,” said Laxman Vhatkar,
director (Engineering services & projects). “The committee looking
into the issue has also recommended that this forms a case of criminal
conduct. The BMC legal department will study the scope of filing an FIR
against the company,” he added.
As per a contract awarded to the firm in 2004 to lay paver blocks
in the city, the firm allegedly submitted bills that had identical
serial numbers. “It was found that the firm purchased small amounts of
BMC-approved paver blocks and used it along with sub-standard material
from the open market, said an official from roads department.
Following a report from the the third party audior, BMC had set
up a three-member committee of BMC officials to probe the matter.
