THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Public Works Department has come out with a software, PRICE (Project Information and Cost Estimation), which would enable the engineers in preparing the estimate and tender schedule, online submission, getting administrative sanction and local market rate justification.
By October 1, the Kerala State Roads and Bridges division and engineering division of the agriculture department would implement it. PWD Minister V. K. Ebrahimkunju launched the software prepared by the National Informatics Centre.
The finance ministry has decided to replicate the PRICE software in other departments as well where PWD buildings chief engineer M. Pennamma has been made the nodal officer. In the second stage, PWD officials have decided to include preparation of revised estimate, bills of the contract works, proceedings of the agreement, contractor registration etc.
“The highlight of the PRICE software is that all the agencies which work with the PWD will find it helpful from scratch until the billing”, said Pennamma.
Mr Ebrahimkunju said normally the finance department sanctions between Rs 100 crore and Rs 140 crore per year. But he rued that by procuring funds from World Bank and NABARD, the expenditure would increase to Rs 4,000 crore per year making the PWD the largest department utilizing the maximum funds.
“When we spend such whopping amount for various projects, there has to be discipline. With the launch of PRICE software, there would be an important link in the expenditure being met”, said Mr Ebrahimkunju.
He also launched a Quality Control Manual for PWD and a Quality Control Laboratory Manual after the technical committee observed that the chapter on the QC in the revised PWD manual was not sufficient to bring out the required quality in the projects taken up by the department.
