Srinagar, Oct 28 (JKNS): Allegations of tender manipulation in the construction of Ekta Mall in Srinagar have raised questions over the transparency of the bidding process, with claims that the disqualification of the lowest bidder and award of the contract to another bidder resulted in an additional financial burden of approximately ₹1.30 crore on the public exchequer.
The tenders for the project were invited by the Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings (R&B), Central Kashmir. According to the allegations, a qualified L1 bidder was disqualified without clear and legitimate reasons, while the contract was subsequently awarded to another bidder at a significantly higher cost.
The allegations have triggered concerns over the fairness of the tender evaluation process and the financial implications for public funds. However, the claims require independent verification, including an examination of the grounds for disqualification and the comparative financial bids.
The concerned authorities have been urged to order an impartial inquiry into the tendering process, establish the reasons for rejecting the lowest bidder and verify the reported ₹1.30 crore difference in the contract cost.
The demand also calls for fixing responsibility if any irregularities, procedural violations or misuse of authority are established during the investigation.
There was no official response available on the allegations at the time of filing this report. (JKNS)