4/11/22, 9:42 AM 3 tenders in 6 months, yet bridge repair stays locked in red tape - The Economic Times

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Business News › News › Politics › 3 tenders in 6 months, yet bridge repair stays locked in red tape

3 tenders in 6 months, yet bridge repair stays

locked in red tape

Synopsis
It seems that the government is yet to fix the responsibility and a high-power
committee, led by chief secretary Malay De, has been formed to investigate the matter.

Even as experts claim that shoddy

maintenance may have caused the fatal
collapse of the 54-year-old Majerhat
bridge which killed three people, an ET
investigation reveals that at least three
tenders for taking up repair work were
floated by the Public Works

Over the past six months, three tenders were

Department (PWD) in the past six
called by three different divisions, including months.

Nabanna Circle, for the repair.

Latest tenders were floated on July 17 and July 27, around a month before the
bridge collapse. Although there is no official explanation why these tenders
were not implemented, two state departments—PWD and Finance— are still
sparring over whose responsibility it was to implement the tender.

It seems that the government is yet to fix the responsibility and a high-power
committee, led by chief secretary Malay De, has been formed to investigate the
matter.

Popular in Politics
While PWD officials claimed that the tenders got stuck with the finance 1. 14 and counting: MVA netas
facing ED, CBI & tax probes
department that reportedly raised objections and shot down the proposals
terming them as “not of immediate priority”, the finance department officials
said a report based on the “facts” has been submitted to the chief minister and
she would “respond” to this.

2. Voters must decide if freebies

are good or bad, Election
Commission tells Supreme

Court
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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/3-tenders-in-6-months-yet-bridge-repair-stays-locked-in-red-tape/articleshow/6571… 1/6
4/11/22, 9:42 AM 3 tenders in 6 months, yet bridge repair stays locked in red tape - The Economic Times

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“We know that several things are being fed to people about the finance 5. Rahul Gandhi-backed
nominee Amrinder Singh
department. We have already given a report to the chief minister based on Brar is new Punjab PCC chief

facts and figures,” said a senior official of state’s finance department.

3 tenders
SECTIONSDas, ET
By Madhuparna Bureauin 6 months, yet bridge
Last Updated: repair
Sep 07, stays
2018, locked
09:36 in red tape
AM IST

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Over the past six months, three tenders were called by three different
divisions, including Nabanna Circle, for the repair.

The first of the e-tenders was issued on March 3 by the office of the
Superintending Engineer, Nabanna Circle, for “special repair of Majherhat
Bridge and approach road on Diamond Harbour road” at an estimated cost of
Rs 2,81,26,742.

According to the notice inviting electronic tender by the executive engineer II,
POLITICS TRENDING TERMS
Alipore Division, PWD, dated July 27, an amount of Rs 5,17,928, was estimated
for surface repairing of the service road of Majherhat Bridge (western side) e Ministry Of Toursim Ministry Of Coal

under Alipore division, PWD, during 2018-19.

ews

A third notice inviting tenders by the office of the assistant engineer, Behala
Most Popular News
sub-division, on July 17, titled “Repairing of Majherhat Bridge over Diamond
Harbour Road during the year 2017-2018 including approaches”, states that 1. FASTag users can soon de-
link vehicles from tags
the tender was called for “picking up and removing old bituminous layer or
sand sealing coat from old black topped surface and cleaning the exposed
surface by scraping and stacking the material as directed”.

2. Inflation, expensive fuel may

eat into household budget:

Economists
However, ministers and bureaucrats are tight-lipped over the reasons behind
the non-implementation of these tenders. Following an emergency meeting at
3. Mumbai man, 67, confirmed
Nabanna, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Nobody will be spared and as first Omicron XE case

all angles would be investigated.”

Amid controversies over “non-implementation” of old tenders, a reality check 4. Time to use opportunity to
buy IT stocks this earnings
into the recent tenders floated by PWD, revealed that the department, called season: Ajay Bagga

tenders for “emergent work at circuit house” in Purulia district for the
upcoming visit of TMC MP, Abhishek Banerjee, the chief minister’s nephew.

5. TCS, Infosys likely to

consolidate in broad range

next week: Ashish Kyal

According to the notice, dated September 4, the day the bridge collapsed, the
executive engineer, Purulia division, invited quotations for “emergent work at
circuit house, for the visit of Abhishek Banerjee, MP (LS) and ‘Z’ plus protectee
to be held on and from 07.09.2018 to 08.09.2018’. On the same day, the
executive engineer of Purulia electrical division of PWD also issued a notice
inviting quotation for “temporary electrification work for the visit of Abhishek BACK TO TOP

Banerjee in Purulia circuit house”.

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