Latest news with #AshokKumarChoudhary
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
RWD saves Rs 816cr through transparent bidding: Minister
Patna: State's rural development minister, Ashok Kumar Choudhary, on Friday said his department has been able to save up to Rs 816.68 crore because of "transparent and competitive" bidding process for the construction of rural roads across the state. Addressing a press conference at the IPRD hall here, he said the tender amount for 1,038 packages (of rural roads) was Rs 18,636.42 crore but the actual contract was awarded just for Rs 17,819.74 crore, thus saving an amount of Rs 816.68 crore. The minister also said the state govt had earlier given permission to the department to prepare block-wise/ sub-division packages for the construction of rural roads. "Under the rural roads strengthening and management programme, the state govt has sanctioned the proposal to construct 14,036 roads having 24,480 km length in 2024-25, while 4,079 roads having 6,484 km of length have been sanctioned in the current financial year (2025-26). Had road-wise tender been floated, the number of tenders would have been much higher which would have taken time in disposing of them," he said. He also pointed out that the RWD has prepared a "combined model bidding document" as per which bidders have been barred from submitting hard copies to bring transparency. "In order to maintain the rural roads for seven years and ensure better riding quality, 70% to 75% of the amount will be utilised in the first year, while the remaining 25% to 30% will be spent in the fourth year for proper maintenance," the minister said.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
No global tender for construction of rural roads: RWD minister
Patna: Rural works department minister, Ashok Kumar Choudhary, on Friday unequivocally stated that there is no question of the department inviting global tender for construction of rural roads in the state. Opposition RJD had charged the department with taking the route of global tender through which it allegedly wanted to realise Rs 1,000 crore before the polls. "Tender for construction of rural roads is carried out on the basis of national bidding in which local people are given priority in awarding the tender. There is no question of inviting global tender by the department," Choudhary told reporters here at a press conference held at the IPRD's conference hall. "Normally in global tender, bidders from different foreign countries like China, Russia, France etc take part in the tendering process…. The department makes it amply clear that it does not invite any global tender for construction of rural roads," he said while adding that opposition parties are unnecessarily creating confusion on the issue. Choudhary said he wanted to make his stand clear on opposition's allegations of inviting global tender by the department but he could not put his views inside the House (Assembly) because of ruckus and pandemonium created by the opposition parties and hence "I have to talk through the media to get across to the people on the issue." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This year's most comfortable shoes are a hit with the over-40 crowd Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo The minister, who was accompanied by additional chief secretary Dipak Kumar Singh and other senior officials, emphasised that out of 1,038 block-wise packages prepared by the department, locals, especially of the same district, have been given priority for award of the tender ranging between Rs 5 crore to Rs 55 crore. Asked how many companies belonging to other states have been awarded contracts, Choudhary said that the number is negligible as two-three companies hailing from Jharkhand while one or two companies from Uttar Pradesh have been engaged. The department has already adopted the award of contracts on the basis of block-wise package for strengthening and management of rural roads, the minister said and added that the work allotment in terms of package gets expedited now as the contract is awarded within two-three months against the normal time of eight-nine months.
