Nagpur: A spike in contractors quoting bids 30–40% below official estimates has raised concerns over the quality and durability of works undertaken by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). A city-based expert has termed such “unthinkably low” bids a deviation from established engineering and financial norms.In a representation to the standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare and municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar, engineer and legal expert Ashok Karandikar said such pricing defies the logic of the govt’s estimation framework and requires urgent scrutiny.Karandikar, a founder member of Janakrosh, a city-based NGO working on traffic awareness, noted that official estimates are prepared through a rigorous process factoring in standard schedules of rates (SSR), specifications, labour costs, taxes, and contractor margins, typically 10–15%. Under normal conditions, bids fall within a narrow band of ±5% of these estimates. Bids 30–40% lower indicate a fundamental flaw.He added that tendering follows established norms, including CPWD manuals and standard procedures designed to ensure transparency and quality. “Such steep underbidding is a red flag. Either the estimate is flawed, or execution will suffer — both cannot be correct,” he argued.Karandikar warned that awarding contracts at such rates could lead to the use of substandard materials, compromised execution, or incomplete works, ultimately escalating maintenance costs and financial strain on the civic body.The representation also points to deeper systemic issues and calls for a detailed probe into why contractors are accepting seemingly unviable rates. Suggested measures include rejecting such bids and re-tendering projects, considering median bidders instead of the lowest, conducting technical audits, and enforcing stricter performance guarantees.INFOBOX: WHY LOW-BALL TENDERS ARE A CONCERNGovt estimates based on SSR, labour, materials and standardsNormal bid variation: ±5%Current trend: 30-40% below estimatesRisks:Substandard materialsPoor workmanshipIncomplete executionHigher long-term repair costsKey Fixes Suggested:Independent expert scrutinyRe-tendering flawed bidsMedian bidder selectionMandatory technical auditsExtended performance guarantees
