_Fears of big fraud expressed in the tender process of Shimla ropeway project_
Former Minister and current MLA of Dharamshala Assembly constituency, Mr. Sudhir Sharma has questioned the tender process of Shimla Ropeway Project. He alleged that the state government is trying to benefit a particular company Vishwa Samudra in the upcoming cabinet.
Giving details of the matter, Mr. Sharma said that the Shimla Ropeway Project, funded by the New Development Bank (NDB), is a ₹1,734 crore initiative to construct a 13.79 km long ropeway in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Aimed at decongesting the city, the project has received approval from the NDB for advance tenders, with the Himachal Pradesh government contributing 20% equity and the NDB providing the remaining 80%. The ropeway is expected to be completed in two phases and will have 13 stations with a capacity to carry 6,000 people per hour.
The New Development Bank (NDB) is providing the majority of the funds (80%), with the Himachal Pradesh government contributing just 20%.
Sudhir Sharma alleged that Vishwa Samudra has submitted a bid of Rs. 4000 crores and it is a single tender and pressure is being exerted to get it approved by the cabinet at any cost, while Bridge and Roof, an undertaking of the Government of India, has been declared ineligible on technical grounds. Now Vishwa Samudra Company has offered to reduce the amount by Rs. 400 crores and preparations are being made to get it approved by the cabinet. For which the RTDC’s BOD has recommended it and the argument given was that the rate was 100% higher due to the two-year-old DPR. The state government is not ready to call for tenders again in this matter, while two months have passed since the tender was opened. After the BOD, now it will be placed in the four-day cabinet meeting from 28 to 31 for the cabinet’s approval.
Accusing the state government, Mr. Sharma said that the government is ready to give the tender at double the rate and is also ready to give 20 percent share of the loan for this, whereas the money for CU’s FCA has not been paid yet. Targeting the government, he said that the government involved in corruption from top to bottom has now lost the trust of the common people and now the government has no right to remain in power.
