Competitive bidding process skipped for certain bypasses in Ahmedabad
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Competitive bidding process skipped for certain bypasses in Ahmedabad

Another problem has emerged while the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) hesitates to take legal action against the contractor for the questionable building of the Hatkeshwar Flyover. At a number of public projects approved in the city in recent years, most recently at the Vaishnodevi Underpass on SG Highway, a practise of avoiding the mandatory competitive bidding procedure by proposing underpasses in multi-crore flyover constructions has evolved.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state department of roads and buildings worked together to construct numerous flyovers on the SG Road in 2017-18. The need for underpasses was initially not mentioned in the detailed project reports (DPR) for the four flyover construction packages. However, two years later, while the flyover construction at Vaishnodevi Crossroads was still ongoing, budgets to build four underpasses worth Rs 730 million were approved by skipping the required bidding process. While building these underpasses, the mandatory bidding process was skipped.

Ashish Infracon Pvt. Ltd. won the initial bid for the Vaishnodevi Flyover project for Rs 1.63 billion. But, during the following two years of development, the same contractor was given the go-ahead to build two significant and two small underpasses, totaling Rs 730 million, close to the flyover.

Four packages were part of the NHAI and R&B partnership on SG Road. Four building packages were released in 2017-18; the first package cost Rs 1.26 billion, the second Rs 1.63 billion, the third Rs 2.49 billion, and the fourth Rs 1.13 billion. Vaishnodevi Flyover tenders were released in 2018 as part of package 2. An underpass construction requirement was not mentioned in the traffic analysis that was part of the detailed DPR for this overpass. About two years into the development process, the R&B department proposed two main and two small underpasses beneath Vaishnodevi Flyover.

“The cost of Vaishnodevi Underpass was Rs 340 million. Another underpass towards Khodiyar Shantigram was awarded for Rs 248 million that were to be borne by the contractor. Two more small underpasses to divert traffic worth Rs 57.7 million and Rs 114.5 million were sanctioned later,” said a senior AMC official.

Another problem has emerged while the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) hesitates to take legal action against the contractor for the questionable building of the Hatkeshwar Flyover. At a number of public projects approved in the city in recent years, most recently at the Vaishnodevi Underpass on SG Highway, a practise of avoiding the mandatory competitive bidding procedure by proposing underpasses in multi-crore flyover constructions has evolved. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state department of roads and buildings worked together to construct numerous flyovers on the SG Road in 2017-18. The need for underpasses was initially not mentioned in the detailed project reports (DPR) for the four flyover construction packages. However, two years later, while the flyover construction at Vaishnodevi Crossroads was still ongoing, budgets to build four underpasses worth Rs 730 million were approved by skipping the required bidding process. While building these underpasses, the mandatory bidding process was skipped. Ashish Infracon Pvt. Ltd. won the initial bid for the Vaishnodevi Flyover project for Rs 1.63 billion. But, during the following two years of development, the same contractor was given the go-ahead to build two significant and two small underpasses, totaling Rs 730 million, close to the flyover. Four packages were part of the NHAI and R&B partnership on SG Road. Four building packages were released in 2017-18; the first package cost Rs 1.26 billion, the second Rs 1.63 billion, the third Rs 2.49 billion, and the fourth Rs 1.13 billion. Vaishnodevi Flyover tenders were released in 2018 as part of package 2. An underpass construction requirement was not mentioned in the traffic analysis that was part of the detailed DPR for this overpass. About two years into the development process, the R&B department proposed two main and two small underpasses beneath Vaishnodevi Flyover. “The cost of Vaishnodevi Underpass was Rs 340 million. Another underpass towards Khodiyar Shantigram was awarded for Rs 248 million that were to be borne by the contractor. Two more small underpasses to divert traffic worth Rs 57.7 million and Rs 114.5 million were sanctioned later,” said a senior AMC official.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

DCPC Prepares for Special Campaign 5.0 with Focus on E-Waste

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is gearing up for Special Campaign 5.0, to be held from 2nd to 31st October 2025. The initiative will focus on e-waste disposal as per MoEFCC’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022, space optimisation, and enhancing workplace efficiency across field offices.Special Campaign 4.0, conducted between October 2023 and October 2024, delivered notable results in record management, grievance redressal, scrap disposal, and cleanliness drives.Key outcomes of Special Campaign 4.0Records management: 2,443 physical fil..

Next Story
Real Estate

BlackRock India Leases 1.4 Lakh Sq Ft in Bengaluru

BlackRock Services India, the domestic arm of global asset manager BlackRock, has leased 1.4 lakh sq ft of office space at IndiQube Symphony in Bengaluru, according to Propstack data. The 10-year deal is valued at around Rs 4.10 billion.The lease, among the largest transactions in India’s co-working sector, highlights the growing preference of global institutions for flexible office providers. The agreement, commencing October 1, 2025, covers ground plus five floors in KNG Tower 1 at Ashoknagar, MG Road — one of Bengaluru’s prime commercial hubs.As per the lease document, BlackRock will ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

L&T Bags Rs 25–50 Bn Order for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Track Works

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Transportation Infrastructure business has secured an order valued between Rs 25 crore and Rs 50 billion from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.The contract, Package T1, involves the design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of 156 route km of high-speed ballastless track on a Design-Build Lump Sum Price basis. The stretch runs from Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex to Zaroli village in Gujarat and includes 21 km of underground track and 135 km of elevated viaduct.Se..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?