Current road contractors quoted up to 55% below BMC estimate

It’s no wonder that the city roads are pockmarked with potholes. The contractors appointed for road maintenance and repairs won contracts after quoting as low as 55% below the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpo-ration’s estimated work cost.

It’s no wonder that the city roads are pockmarked with potholes. The contractors appointed for road maintenance and repairs won contracts after quoting as low as 55% below the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpo-ration’s estimated work cost.

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The BMC allots tenders to the lowest bidders, and all contractors appointed quoted between 24% and 55% lower than the civic estimate.

The BMC had floated tenders for an estimated cost of Rs5 crore each, and these contractors were appointed in June 2010. “Bids that are 10% to 15% lower than our estimate are acceptable as there are differences in the market estimate and ours. But 55% is not workable,” said a senior civic official.