Weigh technical expertise while awarding road contracts: HC

Observing that the system of awarding contracts for construction and repair of roads as well as flyovers should be made more effective, the Bombay High Court today suggested that contracts should be awarded to those with more technical expertise instead of the lowest bidder.
"Some contractor may bid a little higher than the limit but he might be qualified then you should consider him instead of just awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. Weightage should be given to technical expertise," a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha said.
The court was hearing a suo moto (on its own) public interest litigation on the poor condition of roads in the state and the recent incidents of bikers losing their lives due to potholes ridden roads.

The court also suggested the corporation and other authorities to develop a database of all those companies blacklisted for poor work.
"It is also pointed out that once a company is blacklisted the same person floats another company in his relatives names and bids the next year. The civic authorities have to see to it that awarding contract again to the same person is avoided," the court said.
BMC counsel Milind Sathe said that the corporation does consider the capabilities and expertise and past performance of the company before awarding contracts.

Dr P S Pasricha, former Director General of Police Maharashtra and traffic expert also gave his suggestions to the high court today.

According to Pasricha, the loss of human hours and fuel should also be considered while awarding contracts. He added that if a flyover which is constructed by one contractor in two years and the same can be done by another contractor in lesser time at a little higher cost then the second contractor should be preferred.
Advocate General Darius Khambata informed the court that a co-ordination committee was set up in September 28, 2012.
The court directed Khambata to take instructions from the government on the functioning and powers of this committee. The petition has been posted for further hearing on November 22.