A tender floated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Public Works Department has sparked intense debate after a contractor quoted 41.62 percent below the estimated project cost, raising serious concerns over the quality and feasibility of the work.
The tender, worth ₹28.99 lakh, was issued on August 21 for installing I-block pavers between Kamal Square and SCS Girls School, Pachpaoli. A total of 28 contractors submitted bids, most offering between 25 to 40 percent less than the estimated cost. However, one contractor’s bid — nearly 42 percent lower — has become the talk of the contracting circles.
Senior contractors described it as a “dangerous competition,” warning that such deep underquoting could either mean inflated official estimates or desperate price-cutting to secure contracts. In both cases, they say, the ultimate risk falls on the quality of public works and the effective use of taxpayer money.
Officials claim lower bids help the government save money, but experienced contractors argue that this trend often leads to poor materials, delayed execution, and cost overruns during later stages. Since the COVID-19 period, tenders quoted 35–45 percent below estimates have become increasingly common.
Experts warn that such practices not only hurt contractors but can also cause losses to the civic body itself. Senior members of the contractors’ association said they plan to take up the issue with municipal engineers and urge stricter monitoring to prevent “price dumping” that threatens the quality of public infrastructure.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com