The Asian Development Bank, which had sanctioned a Rs 1,330 crore loan to the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) in 2020 for infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,900 crore, has rejected tenders for seven flyovers because they each had only one bidder.

The ADB loan for the total project is Rs 1,330 crore with Rs 570 crore raised by the implementing authority. This project - among other infrastructure works - included nine flyovers and one underpass in Auda areas along SP Ring Road, which was expected to cost Rs 660 crore. Auda divided these projects into six packages and issued a tender in September 2022.

A pre-bid meeting was held on 30 September and technical bids were opened on 30 October. Because four tenders received only a few tenders, the ADB, citing the guidelines of the central vigilance committee, rejected these tenders and asked Auda to invite bids again.

"The six flyover packages, which were expected to cost Rs 660 crore, drew bids totalling Rs 900 crore. Of these, four packages with a combined cost of Rs 550 crore received single bids. Two packages received multiple bids. The four single-bidder tenders - with seven flyovers - were sent to ADB, which rejected them citing CVC guidelines not to erase single-bid tenders," a senior Auda official told TOI.

The official said Auda will now issue new tenders for these seven flyovers in the short term and that the price bids will be opened at the same time.

In the detailed project report sent to ADB for approval of the Rs 1,330 crore loan, Auda proposed works worth Rs 270 crore in Ghuma, Shela, Godhavi, Manipur, Sanathal and Telav, including a sewage network for Rs 115 crore and rainwater drains for Rs 115 crore.