ADB rejects tenders for seven flyovers in Ahmedabad

The Asian Development Bank, which had in 2020 sanctioned Rs 1,330 crore loan to the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) for infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,900 crore, has rejected tenders for seven flyovers because they had only one bidder each.The ADB loan for the overall project is Rs 1,330 crore with Rs 570 crore raised by the executing authority. This project — among other infrastructure works — covered nine flyovers and one underpass in Auda areas along SP Ring Road, projected to cost Rs 660 crore. Auda divided these projects into six packages and floated tenders in September 2022.A pre-bid meeting was held on September 30 and technical bids were opened on October 30. As four tenders got only single bids, the ADB, citing central vigilance commission guidelines, rejected these tenders and asked Auda to invite bids again.“The six packages for flyover, projected to cost Rs 660 crore, drew bids totalling Rs 900 crore. Of these, four packages with a combined cost of Rs 550 crore received single bids. Two packages got multiple bids. The four tenders with single bidders — involving seven flyovers — were sent to ADB, which rejected them citing the CVC guidelines to not clear tenders with single bids,” a senior Auda official told TOI.The official said Auda will now float new tenders for these seven flyovers with short notice and price bids will be opened at the same time.In the detailed project report sent to ADB for sanction of the Rs 1,330 crore loan, Auda proposed works worth Rs 270 crore in Ghuma, Shela, Godhavi, Manipur, Sanathal and Telav, including a sewerage network for Rs 115 crore and stormwater drains for Rs 115 crore.