AP Government Claims Saving Rs 58 Crore By Rebidding A Package Of Polavaram Project; TDP Says CM ‘Doesn’t Know Anything’

The Andhra Pradesh government claims that it has saved Rs 58 crore by reverse tendering the various works given under the Polavaram national irrigation project, reports Livemint.

Several tasks under Polavaram project’s 65th package including construction of head regular left plank, navigation lock and approach channels 1 and 2 have been given to Max Infra (I) Ltd by fresh bidding. The government claims that the specific package of the project has been given to the lowest bidder that quoted 15.6 per cent lesser (Rs 231 crore) than the estimated cost of Rs 274 crore.

A statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office also said that the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government had given the same work for Rs 292 crore to the same construction company.

“The same company, during Chandrababu's government, bid the tender for excess 4.8% which is another example of corruption during TDP's government. A big amount of Rs. 58 crores of government money has been saved in this reverse tendering process," added the statement.

The Jagan Mohan Reddy government has begun to call fresh bids for the various remaining works under the project, claiming to fix the losses due to alleged corruption during Chandrababu Naidu government.

Naidu, however, criticised the YSR Congress government saying that the chief minister was not aware of the importance of the project. “It (project) has to have a foundation, it needs specialisation. It is a unique project in India. This chief minister should keep quiet if he does not know anything,” said the former CM.