Chennai: Contractors can now lease equipment

The Greater Chennai Corporation has changed its tender guidelines for road-cut patch-up work in seven areas to allow contractors to lease equipment. The corporation had requested mandatory ownership of equipment such as a 4.5-metre paver machine, central mix plant, static roller, vibrator tandem roller mini-roller, tractor or bobcat vehicle, and mechanical sprayers for the seven road-cut patch-up jobs. While they are minor jobs that cost between '8 and 15 lakhs per project,' only smaller contractors below the class-three level engage. With the ownership restriction, however, only larger contractors would be eligible to participate. According to the contractors, this favoured larger contractors. However, in a corrigendum, the business stated that contractors can lease static rollers, mini-rollers, tractors, and Bobcat vehicles.