SRINAGAR, September 22, 2026 – Addressing administrative concerns regarding public infrastructure contracts, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary informed the Legislative Assembly that the government maintains a well-defined, transparent, and strictly rule-based mechanism for the allotment of public works. Replying comprehensively to a query raised by MLA Mehraj Malik concerning the approval of contractor bids that fall significantly below departmental estimates, the Deputy Chief Minister asserted that all cost estimates are prepared meticulously in accordance with the applicable Schedule of Rates, prevailing site conditions, and approved technical specifications. He detailed that all departmental estimates undergo rigorous technical scrutiny and are only sanctioned by the competent authority following established procedures, after which the projects are allotted through a highly competitive e-tendering process to the lowest responsive and eligible bidder.
Dispelling apprehensions regarding the quality and viability of low-cost tenders, Choudhary clarified to the House that bids falling substantially below the estimated cost are never accepted mechanically. Instead, the government has instituted a robust mechanism to scrutinize abnormally low bids before any award decision is finalized. During this evaluation phase, authorities deeply assess the bidder’s past experience, technical capacity, available resources, and the practical viability of the quoted rates against the Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs). To further safeguard the government’s financial and contractual interests, an Additional Performance Security is routinely obtained from the successful bidder whenever prescribed under the specific tender conditions, ensuring that contractors cannot abandon financially constrained projects midway.
The Deputy Chief Minister strongly emphasized that awarding a contract at a rate lower than the departmental estimate does not equate to a dilution of prescribed quality standards. He assured the Assembly that strict compliance with approved specifications, quantities, and structural parameters is enforced during execution through regular site inspections and established quality-control testing mechanisms. To guarantee long-term infrastructural integrity, appropriate Defect Liability and Maintenance provisions are embedded into these contracts, making field officers directly responsible for monitoring completed projects. Highlighting programs like the PMGSY, where road performance is tracked via the e-MARG portal, Choudhary stated that any defects detected during the liability period must be rectified by the contractor within a stipulated timeframe, failing which the government initiates strict penal actions, including the withholding of payments and the invocation of performance securities.
Published by True Roots Media Network