Nagpur: Ahead of the Maharashtra legislature’s Winter Session in Nagpur starting from Dec 7, the state public works department (PWD) has floated 94 repair and maintenance works worth Rs10.38 crore for govt buildings and facilities used during the session.A scrutiny of the works, however, shows a striking pattern — a large number of apparently different jobs have been assigned exactly the same estimated cost.Of the 94 works, 85 have estimates falling into just seven recurring amounts. As many as 36 works are estimated at Rs8.44 lakh each, 19 at Rs6.75 lakh, 11 at Rs10.13 lakh, eight each at Rs16.88 lakh and Rs12.66 lakh, five at Rs21.10 lakh and three at Rs15.19 lakh.The most striking examples are 19 different works, all estimated at exactly Rs6.75 lakh, and another 36 works carrying an identical estimate of Rs8.44 lakh.A senior PWD official told TOI that the identical figures do not necessarily indicate that the works themselves are identical. “These are maintenance works. For works below Rs10 lakh, a detailed estimate is prepared after accounting for GST and other overheads. After deductions, the amount works out to a particular figure, which is then reflected in the technical sanction,” he said.The Rs10.38 crore package is part of PWD’s annual exercise before the Winter Session. Every year, the department undertakes repairs and renovation at Ravi Bhavan, Nag Bhavan, Vidhan Bhavan, Deogiri, MLA Hostel, Suyog Building, Minister Camp and Hyderabad House, among other govt properties.“Different work is taken up at different places. If one work is done this year, something else is taken up the next year,” the official said.This year, Vidhan Bhavan accounts for 21 works worth Rs2.29 crore and Ravi Bhavan has 14 works worth Rs2.22 crore, while residential quarters and colonies account for 22 works worth Rs1.87 crore. The two costliest individual works — roof replacement and renovation of Ministerial Cottages 1 and 2 at Ravi Bhavan — are estimated at Rs42.02 lakh each.
