The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) Data, Schedule of Rates (SOR), and National Building Code Guidelines will be adopted by government departments in the State from October.
The government formally notified that the CPWD Data & SOR, National Buildings Code Guidelines, and MORTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) specifications would be effective in the State from October 1.
The notification issued by the Secretary, Public Works Department, came in the wake of a decision taken at a high-level meeting convened by the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Board to make it effective from April this year, official sources told The Hindu .
Bids to be reviewed
Following the adoption of the CPWD procedures and e-tendering, the present process of sanction of bids above the estimate will be reviewed. The estimate for Central schemes will be prepared on the basis of the CPWD & SOR and procedures with built-in escalation cost.
The meeting, attended by the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretaries, Finance, Fisheries and Ports and Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD), had decided to adopt e-tendering in all departments from April 1.
It was also decided to delegate powers to department officials to avoid delays and unnecessary paper work once the procedures were adopted.
e-tendering
The meeting also decided that the possibility of sending completion cost estimate with built-in escalation should be considered so that the Union government’s share was maximised for all Centrally-sponsored schemes. The government notification said implementation of e-tendering had commenced in all the departments.
The CPWD publishes from time to time specifications that are very comprehensive and useful in execution of works and are used as guide by engineering departments, public sector undertakings, architects and builders. These specifications not only give the standards for building materials but also serve as guidelines for execution of works, measurements and rates.
