KTR questions bidder disqualifications in Rs 3,296-crore road project

BRS working president KT Rama Rao alleged irregularities in the Rs 3,296-crore Radial Road-2 tender process and sought cancellation and a probe. He questioned bidder disqualifications and contract pricing, citing claims of a potential Rs 600-crore loss to the State.=

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has accused the Congress government of irregularities in the Rs 3,296-crore Radial Road-2 tender process and demanded immediate cancellation of the tenders and a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged scam.

In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday, Rama Rao questioned the allocation of contracts, the disqualification of bidders who reportedly quoted lower prices and the award of packages at prices allegedly higher than the estimates.

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Rama Rao demanded that the government disclose all tender documents and explain the decisions taken in selecting contractors.

The project involves the construction of an 81.15-km greenfield expressway from the Outer Ring Road at Budvel to NH-167N near Kodangal. It has been divided into three packages.

Rama Rao questioned whether the tender process was transparent and whether technical eligibility criteria were applied uniformly to all bidders. He alleged that some companies were excluded on technical grounds while contracts were awarded to preferred firms.

According to the tender details cited in his letter, the bid submission deadline was September 30, 2026. The technical evaluation, eligibility assessment, opening of financial bids and allocation process were reportedly completed by October 8.

“How could 13 bids for a project of this magnitude be evaluated and processed within approximately five working days?” he asked.

According to the details cited by Rama Rao, Package I was awarded to NCC Limited for Rs 1,286.03 crore, reportedly 3.95 per cent above the estimated cost. Package II was awarded to BVSR and Package III to GKC.

He demanded disclosure of the complete financial details of all three packages, including estimated costs, quoted prices, comparative statements and final contract values. He questioned why the government had not made the complete allocation details public.

Rama Rao also pointed to alleged inconsistencies in the technical evaluation of bidders. According to him, GKC was disqualified for Package I but qualified for Package III, while BVSR reportedly qualified for Packages I and II but was disqualified for Package III.

He demanded the release of technical evaluation reports and specific reasons for each disqualification, insisting that uniform standards and transparent procedures must govern the award of public contracts.

Rs 600-crore loss alleged, probe sought

The BRS working president referred to submissions made on behalf of Sushi Infra and Mining Limited in court proceedings, which reportedly alleged that its disqualification across the three packages could result in a financial loss of approximately Rs 600 crore to the State.

He demanded a detailed investigation into the allegation, including a comparison of the bids submitted, estimated costs and final contract prices.

“The government must establish whether public money is lost and fix responsibility if any wrongdoing is proved,” Rama Rao said.

He also raised concerns over the Radial Road-1 tender, citing an estimated project cost of approximately Rs 591 crore and an alleged final allocation around 15 per cent above the estimate. He demanded that the government disclose the complete tender records for both projects and undertake a comprehensive review of the bidding and contract allocation processes.

Rama Rao further demanded a special Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) contracts worth more than Rs 100 crore awarded over the past three years.

He called for a white paper on the tendering process, bidder disqualifications and contract allocations.

“If the allegations are unfounded, the government should establish that through documentary evidence. If irregularities or financial losses are established, those responsible should face appropriate action,” Rama Rao said.