Bengaluru: When the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Develop­ment Limited (KRIDL) distributes work to contractors, it does so based on quality. However, the BBMP has observed that the KRIDL provisions are being flouted by corporators, who give out projects only to a handful of favoured contractors. The result, naturally, is shoddy work. The BBMP has decided, therefore, to entrust work only in compliance with the Transparency act and e-procurement.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, BBMP Com­missioner Siddaiah said that most of the work is entrusted to KRIDL, which enjoys exemption under the Karnataka Public Procurement and  also from the Transparency Act.

From now on, civic projects like asphalting, pothole filling, remodeling of drains, construction and renovation of community halls and BBMP school buildings will not be entrusted to KRIDL unless it is an emergency. “Since there is scope for manipulation in the e-tendering process, contractors who can pull strings are getting the projects for themselves. Contractors for all infrastructure projects above Rs 5 lakh will be picked only through e-procurement. This rules out manipulation. There are chances that some contractors are being prevented from participating in the e-tendering system. But, anybody can participate in the e-procurement process. This gives rise to healthy competition,” said Siddaiah.

According to sources, the report submitted by the Technical Vigilance Cell under the Commissioner (TVCC) pointed out that work carried out by the KRIDL was of sub-standard quality. If the projects are entrusted to KRIDL, the contractors who have a good rapport with corporators get the job.

Every year, a minimum of Rs 175 crore (Mayor grants of Rs 150 crore and deputy mayor grants of Rs 25 crore) are entrusted to KRIDL, which goes to the contractors connected to corporators, said sources. Corporators claim that the process of e-tendering and e-procurement takes a long time for the projects to begin.

The inside story, however, is that their supporters and followers might lose the project. Under e-tendering and e-procurement, the contractor who meets the technical qualifications and quotes the lowest price should bag the project, added sources.