Kakinada: The Kakinada Municipal Corporation's (KMC) ambitious Smart City project has hit a temporary road block. Unexpected problems arose, leading the second highest bidder for the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) to get a stay order from the High Court.
The Union government selected Kakinada for the Smart City project in the first phase, the KMC getting nearly Rs 375 crores in funds for the purpose.
The Kakinada Smart City Corporation has also been floated for taking up projects under its purview. But the PMC is most essential for implementation of the project as it has to prepare a detailed project report (DPR).
Three companies, RV Associates, Wadia Technologies and APITCO, filed their tenders. But APITCO's nomination was rejected due to technical reasons.
After making several efforts, the 11-member expert team, headed by a KMC special officer and district collector H. Arunkumar, decided on RV Associates, which got 72 marks, its bid being for Rs 28 crores.
“Though the second highest bidder filed the tender for '18 crores, he could get only 71 marks. So, he lost the chance for the PMC bid,”' said a KMC official.
Sources said that the second highest bidder moved the court, challenging the finalisation of the bidder.
He contended that the bidder's team leader was working as a team leader for three Smart City projects, and according to required procedure, such a team leader could not be allowed.
“We finalised the consultancy as per the government's procedure and guidelines. There was no deviation for it. However, we will file a counter to the petition with the High Court, seeking a vacation of the stay,” said KMC commissioner S. Aleem Basha.
He said that though the High Court gave a stay for the PMC, there would be no hurdles in the execution of road work, WiFi installation, parks and other aspects, as tenders had already been invited for these jobs.
Major items, such as sewerage plants, storm storage tank, underground drainage, underground cable and others, would need a PMC's guidance, he said, and that they were going ahead with the development tasks.
