Expert Urges Overhaul of Tender Norms to Address Concerns Over Low-Ball Bids Nagpur: A growing trend of contractors submitting bids 30–40% below official estimates has sparked alarm over the quality and durability of infrastructure projects undertaken by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). A city-based expert has criticized these "unthinkably low" bids as a deviation from established engineering and financial standards, warning that such pricing undermines the integrity of the tendering process. In a formal representation to the standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare and municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar, engineer and legal expert Ashok Karandikar highlighted the risks associated with these bids. Karandikar, a founder member of Janakrosh, an NGO focused on traffic awareness, explained that official estimates are prepared through a rigorous process that incorporates standard schedules of rates (SSR), specifications, labor costs, taxes, and contractor margins, typically ranging from 10–15%. Under normal circumstances, bids fall within a narrow band of ±5% of these estimates. However, bids 30–40% below the official figures indicate a fundamental flaw in the process. Karandikar emphasized that tendering follows established norms, including guidelines from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and standard procedures designed to ensure transparency and quality. He argued that such steep underbidding is a red flag, suggesting either the estimate is flawed or the execution will suffer—both scenarios being incompatible. He warned that awarding contracts at these rates could lead to the use of substandard materials, compromised workmanship, or incomplete projects, ultimately escalating maintenance costs and straining the civic body’s finances.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #vipin_itankar #shivani_dani_wakhare #ashok_karandikar #janakrosh
