Nagpur: Even as civic officials routinely defend poor-quality roads and repeated repairs by blaming contractors, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) continues to approve public works contracts awarded at dramatically lower-than-estimated rates. The trend is reviving concerns over whether such steep below-estimate bids are financially sustainable without compromising quality.The agenda for the July 10 standing committee meeting reveals at least four Public Works Department (PWD) proposals where contractors have quoted 34% to more than 41% below the estimated project cost, yet the administration has recommended their acceptance.The sharpest discount comes in the retaining wall proposed near Synergy Hospital in Mangalwari Zone, where a contractor has quoted 41.40% below the estimated cost of ₹38.50 lakh. Similarly, another contractor has emerged as the lowest bidder for two cement concrete road projects in Dharampeth Zone, with bids 39.79% and 40.79% below estimates. Another road project in Ashi Nagar Zone has been awarded to a contractor who quoted 36.79% below the estimate, while a Dhantoli road project is proposed to be awarded at 34.11% below the estimated cost.Although competitive bidding is expected to reduce project costs, civic engineering experts point out that nearly 40% below-estimated-cost bids raise legitimate questions about execution standards, material quality and long-term durability.Ironically, many of these projects involve cement concrete roads and retaining walls — sectors where residents have repeatedly complained of premature damage, poor finishing and frequent repairs. In recent years, NMC penalised contractors for poor workmanship and delays.The latest proposals indicate that the administration continues to prioritise the lowest financial bids despite past experiences of substandard civic work. The meeting agenda papers do not indicate whether any independent financial viability assessment or additional performance safeguards were carried out before recommending acceptance of these unusually low bids.The issue assumes significance as the civic body has been spending hundreds of crores annually on road infrastructure while simultaneously facing criticism over recurring potholes, damaged stretches and restoration failures.With elected corporators returning to the standing committee after nearly four years of administrative rule, Friday’s meeting could witness scrutiny over whether awarding contracts at such steeply discounted rates ultimately delivers savings to the exchequer — or merely postpones a larger repair bill for taxpayers.BOXAT THE COST OF QUALITY?5 civic works proposed with bids 34% to 41.40% below estimated cost3 projects involve cement concrete roads, one a retaining wallDespite repeated complaints over poor-quality civic works, NMC continues to recommend acceptance of steep below-estimated-cost bidsExperts say unusually low bids warrant scrutiny to ensure contractors do not compromise on material quality, workmanship or project durability
