As a part of beautification of city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will soon take up mural art works in mosaic, cement and mixed media on wall surfaces at public places and on the pillars and ramps of flyovers in the city.

In this connection, the corporation has invited tenders from artists and art firms.

The GHMC will open technical bids on August 14. A  committee constituted by the GHMC commissioner will evaluate and select the technical bids basing on the experience of the artists or firms. The proposed themes will be evaluated by a committee and the financial bids of eligible bidders will be opened later and finalised.

Depending upon the themes proposed and rates quoted, empanelment of artists/firms will be made for taking up the works.

GHMC officials told Express that interested artists can examine the sites and obtain all information necessary for executing the works.

As the art work is to be taken up outdoors, standard colours and paints of branded companies must be used so that the works last long, they added.

After completion of the work, it will be verified by the work scrutiny committee or by a competent authority. Payment will be released only after the committee certifies that the work has been executed as per specifications.

The committee can also notify the bidder of any defects, which must be corrected. If the defect is not rectified, penalty will be imposed and same would be deducted from the bills, they said.

After the recent High Court directions, clarity has emerged on mayoral elections. The poll process is likely to start in the next few days. According to sources, the city will have a new Mayor and a Deputy Mayor by the end of this month. With this, incumbent Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy’s 16-month tenure will will come to an end.

Sources said lobbying for the top post in the civic agency has already started and aspirants are waiting for the State government’s notification that will formally start the election process.

After the notification is issued, the Regional Election Commissioner will write to BBMP Commissioner on the dates. The process is likely to start early next week. “Tentative dates for Mayoral election is on August 21 or 22. The city will have a new Mayor in office by the end of this month. Once BBMP Council gets the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, Chairpersons for various Standing Committees will be elected,” sources said.

BJP which has majority in BBMP is said to be keen on making one of its senior Councillors as mayor which will help the party to build and regain its base in the state capital. After losing the recent Assembly elections, the BJP wants to improve its performance in the forthcoming parliament election and retain all three seats

A senior BJP leader said the next mayor will play an important role in improving the party image. “The BJP was in power in the state and also at the BBMP, but the civic agency’s financial position or performance did not improve. No new projects were started, even those announced earlier were not implemented. Its high time, we do something about it,” he said.