Indian Express 17.08.2010
Prices of construction material surge, MC fails to find contractors
Express News Service Tags : corporation Posted: Tue Aug 17 2010, 05:41 hrs
Chandigarh: Corporation called for tenders for Sector-48 Food Street thrice but failed to get responseThe Municipal Corporation is facing problems in allocation of tenders, especially those pertaining to construction. One of the reasons being cited is the lack of availability of sand and other construction material.
The civic body has been unable to find contractors to take up the work. In some cases, tenders have been invited more than once, but the response has been less than satisfactory.
One such example is the proposed Food Street to come up in Sector 48. The foundation stone of the Food Street was laid last year. However, till date, the construction has not been started.
The tenders have been called thrice without receiving any response. The tendering for the project would be done .A councillor informed that there is shortage of construction material, due to which the prices have gone up.
The estimates prepared by the civic body for the projects are less. This is why the contractors are not willing to come forward.
He added that while the situation may improve in the coming days and construction material may become available, the shortage is likely to continue.
The problem is prevailing in allocation of the construction work, including setting up community centres. In some cases the projects were approved months ago, yet construction has not been able to commence. The councillors tend to give approval to numerous projects during the House Meet, but the execution is awaited.
Officials, meanwhile, said tendering of the projects would be done again and they were hoping for a favourable response.
