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Sports department cancels tender after NCP raises objections, issues fresh one
NCP (SP) spokesperson Sunil Mane alleged that the previous tender was tailored to benefit a single bidder
The sports department has cancelled its earlier tender and issued a fresh one following objections raised by the Nationalist Congress Party (SP).
NCP (SP) spokesperson Sunil Mane alleged that the previous tender was tailored to benefit a single bidder.
“The entire process seemed designed with a particular bidder in mind. I raised these objections with Sports Minister Dattatray Bharne, who assured me he would address the issue,” Mane said.
He added, “As promised, the sports department issued a new tender on Friday, acknowledging the concerns we raised. We welcome this corrective action. I also wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and discussed the matter with Minister Bharne.”
Sports Minister Dattatray Bharne was unavailable for comment as he was attending a two-day NCP workshop in Shirdi. An official from the sports department, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed, “We have issued a new tender.”
The earlier tender, worth ₹230 crore for the procurement of sports and gym equipment, was part of a three-year agreement with a total contract value of ₹690 crore. Mane alleged that the tender’s terms were exclusionary. “The conditions required the bidder to supply equipment to 500 locations under a single contract, effectively disqualifying smaller yet experienced firms,” he said.
The decision to cancel and reissue the tender has been seen as a positive step, addressing concerns about transparency and fair competition in the procurement process.
