Govt to float fresh bids for road work at Kempegowda Layout

The State government, on Thursday, submitted before the High Court that fresh tenders would be called for execution of road works in the controversial Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, near Kengeri, and that it would rescind the previous tenders.

Government Counsel R Dev­das, in his submission before the High Court, which was hearing a petition regarding controversial financial tender/bids for executing the road works, said fresh tenders would be called shortly to award the works afresh.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Wahgela and Justice B V Nagarathna disposed of the PIL following the submission.

The petitioners had moved the High Court stating that the tender was being awarded for an exorbitant amount than the estimated figure mentioned in the tender document issued by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

The petitioner, V Manjunath, alleged that there was a Rs 1,200-crore scam in the tenders awarded and challenged the process of awarding contract for the formation of roads in the entire layout.

He further alleged that when the acquisition of 4,043 acre notified for the layout was pending for adjudication before the High Court, how could BDA call for tenders to form roads. The government thereafter submitted that tender would be called for only 1,356 acre to form roads.

The petitioners, in their submission, pointed out that BDA had invited bids from three firms- Hyderabad based NCC Limited, Madhucan Private limited and BSCPL Infrastructure Limited- at an approximate cost of Rs 991.25 crore for construction of 24 metre wide roads, and that BDA has succumbed to pressure and had not taken possession of entire land of 4,043 acre.