2 days ago
Haridwar cancels Mansa Devi ropeway tender after court flags safety gaps in tender process
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Haridwar: The civic body in Haridwar has cancelled the tender for operation and maintenance of the Mansa Devi temple ropeway after Uttarakhand high court flagged serious safety concerns and lack of transparency in the bidding process, which allowed firms without ropeway experience to apply.
The court was about to deliver its judgement when the civic body withdrew the process on Tuesday.
Usha Breco Ltd, which has managed the ropeway since 1981, challenged the tender in court. The company said allowing firms with experience only in road construction to bid could compromise passenger safety. HC agreed and disapproved of the civic body's move, prompting the withdrawal.
The petitioner's counsel, Sandeep Kothari, said, "The court had ordered that Usha Breco, if it applied, could be permitted to run the ropeway on an interim basis until a new tender was floated.
The civic body cancelled the tender after the company informed the court about the withdrawal before the final judgement was delivered."
Kothari also pointed out that the civic body acted after a five-member committee formed by the govt submitted its report on June 3. The panel had reviewed the tender's terms and raised concerns. Originally, the tender required bidders to have operational experience in ropeway systems.
But later, the terms were revised to include firms involved in highways, bridges, tunnels, and hospital construction, said sources.
Mayor of Haridwar Municipal Corporation Kiran Jaisal told TOI that while the municipal board gave permission to initiate the tender, the terms were finalised by the municipal corporation. She said she was unaware of the criteria or the changes made to them.
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