The Times of India               25.11.2010

MC begins e-tendering process

LUDHIANA: For bringing transparency in the allotment of tenders, the Municipal Corporation has finally initiated the e-tendering procedure for development works in the areas falling in Zones A, B and C, worth Rs 33.51 crore for the first time. This has been done to curb corruption among employees as well as to keep a tab on the activities of the contractors.

Having already floated e-tenders for development works, especially the construction of roads, the estimated cost of each development work had been kept above Rs 10 lakh. The authorities had

called tenders worth Rs 6.73 crore for development works in Zone A, Rs 7.98 crore in Zone B and Rs 18.80 crore in Zone C.

For participating in the e-tendering process, the contractors would have to register themselves with website ? etender.punjabgovt.gov.in and get a user ID and password, available on the official website of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. The online sale of the bidding documents was on till December 22 while the tenders would be allotted on December 23.

An MC official said that the e-procurement would provide transparency, result in saving of time and money, ease of operation to the implementing organization and to the vendors. The most important aspect was that contractors were no more required to come to the office for tendering process besides the common problem of tender pooling could be solved, he added.

While giving information, superintendent engineer (designs) DPS Wadhwa said that beginning the process, e-tenders had been invited for various development projects. Notably, the state-run Punjab Infotech was providing facilitation services through partnership

with ITI Limited, which was a government of India organization. E-procurement would be made effective in all municipal corporations, Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Corporation and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board.