Pune: PMC’s Sports Department Issues New Tender After NCP Raises Transparency Concerns
Pune: PMC Delays Draft Budget Submission For Third Year; Civic Chief Holds Meetings With Dept Heads
The sports department has cancelled a ₹230-crore tender and issued a fresh one following objections raised by the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), citing concerns over transparency and fairness.
NCP (SP) spokesperson Sunil Mane alleged that the earlier tender, part of a three-year ₹690-crore agreement for sports and gym equipment, was designed to benefit a single bidder. “The conditions required bidders to supply equipment to 500 locations under a single contract, effectively disqualifying smaller but experienced firms,” Mane said.
After raising the issue with Sports Minister Dattatray Bharne, Mane stated that the minister assured him of corrective action. On Friday, the department issued a new tender, addressing the concerns raised. Mane also wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to highlight the matter.
An official from the sports department, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the reissue of the tender. However, Sports Minister Bharne was unavailable for comment as he was attending an NCP workshop in Shirdi.
The decision to cancel the earlier tender and invite fresh bids has been widely seen as a step toward ensuring transparency and fostering fair competition in the procurement process.
