The e-tendering system in the Public Works Department, approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday, will free tendering of public works from manipulations, Works Minister M. Vijayakumar said here on Friday.
The Minister said that the process would make the system fully transparent and eliminate the chances of irregularities. The whole details from the tender schedule to details of the award would be accessible to the public from the Department Website. At the same time, full secrecy of the bids would be maintained until the tenders are opened.
Mr. Vijayakumar said that the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation would be responsible for the technical services. There would not be any additional expenditure for the government, as a service charge was proposed to be collected from the contractors. The system was introduced overcoming resistance from the contractors and officials.
He announced that general criteria had been fixed for transfers of officials in the Department. Postings would be done annually in May. No official would be allowed to continue in a post or section for more than three years.
The Minister noted that as much as Rs. 25 lakh was being paid for posting of executive engineers in district road divisions. The new norms would end corruption and irregularities in postings. Applications for transfers would be received online, processed and a draft list published before issuing final orders. Complaints would be considered before issue of the final orders.
The Cabinet had also approved the revised code and manual of the Department which incorporated changes needed in the view of the new technologies and equipment available for public works. The revised manual had clear provisions regarding project investigation, design, planning, preparation of estimates, bidding, administration and maintenance. Emphasis is given to environment friendly roads and road safety. Liaison officers would be appointed to simplify proceedings connected to other Departments and the High Court.
He said that the Kerala Highway Research Institute was proposed to be linked to Indian Institutes of Technology and turned into a model research institute with modern laboratory facilities. A panel of designers and architects from outside the Department would be formed to advice the Department on important projects.
(EOM)
