Finally, Procurement Shifts from L1!

26 Nov 2021 CW Team

Prime Minister Modi has retreated and withdrawn the proposed farm laws. A step back for progressive reforms for the farm sector, but a step forward for democracy. Meanwhile, critical reforms are underway, although silently, that can have a cascading impact on our national assets on which we have proposed to spend ₹ 110 trillion over the next five years under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

Public procurement policy norms have been tweaked to allow for quality-oriented procurement. The guidelines issued by the Department of Expenditure’s Public Procurement Division have now allowed the selection of bidders for works and non-consultancy services through alternative procurement methods like quality-cum-cost-based selection (QCBS) thereby fulfilling a long felt need for the industry for which FIRST Construction Council and Construction World have raised concerns. In times of early infrastructure development during UPA 1 and UPA 2, the L1 method has driven several private companies to make ridiculous bids endangering their sustainability. In the L1 system, a bidder is selected only on the basis of the lowest cost. But now things are set for a change.

Click here to read more

Equipment

12 Dec 2025

Schwing Stetter India Unveils New Innovations at Excon 2025

Schwing Stetter India unveiled more than 20 new machines at Excon 2025, marking one of its most significant showcases and introducing several India-first technologies to the construction equipment sector. The company launched the country’s first 56-metre boom pump designed and manufactured in India, the first fully electric truck mixer, the first CNG mixer variant and the first hybrid boom pump. Executives said the launch portfolio was engineered to support India’s move toward faster, greener and more vertically oriented infrastructure through advanced engineering, clean-energy solutions a..

SEPC Resolves Hindustan Copper Dispute, Wins Rs 725 Mn Order

Engineering, procurement and construction firm SEPC Ltd has recently settled a dispute with Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and secured a mining infrastructure order valued at Rs 725 million from the state-owned company. SEPC informed the stock exchanges that it has executed a settlement deed with HCL, bringing closure to all inter-se claims and counterclaims arising from arbitration proceedings. As part of the settlement, SEPC will receive Rs 304.5 million as full and final payment, marking the resolution of all pending disputes between the two entities. The company also stated that Hindustan Co..

20% Ethanol Blending Cuts India’s CO2 Emissions by 73.6 Mn Tonnes

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said that India has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 73.6 million metric tonnes due to the adoption of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. He made the statement while replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Describing ethanol as a green fuel, the minister said it plays a key role in reducing pollution while also supporting higher incomes for farmers. He underlined that ethanol blending contributes both to environmental sustainability and rural economic growth. Nitin Gadkari also po..