Subheadline: The municipal corporation will seek councillors’ feedback and examine the tender conditions before taking a final decision.
The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation will conduct a detailed inquiry into its ₹957.64-crore solid-waste management tender after councillors raised concerns about the bidding process, service quality and the conditions imposed on contractors. Mayor Ajiv Patil directed the administration to collect feedback from councillors and present details of the tender conditions before the next general body meeting.
The five-year contract covers daily cleaning of roads and public spaces, cleaning of drain chambers, door-to-door waste collection and transportation of waste to disposal sites. The contract period runs from 2025-26 to 2030-31 and has been awarded, on a ward-wise basis, to Amrut Enterprises, RNB Infra Pvt Ltd and Crystal Integrated Services Ltd, according to the report.
The civic body had conducted the tender process three times after the tenure of earlier contractors expired last year. The third process was issued on a ward-wise basis and resulted in the appointment of the three contractors for the five-year period. Councillors subsequently demanded an inquiry, alleging that the contract had been awarded in haste and that daily cleanliness services were not being carried out adequately in parts of the city.
The issue was taken up during Monday’s general body meeting following complaints from residents and elected representatives. Opposition councillors questioned the administration’s handling of the process and raised objections to provisions in the tender documents.
BJP opposition leader Manoj Patil alleged that the civic body was operating without properly weighing the waste collected each day and was instead relying on estimates. He also alleged that the tender did not clearly specify the number of workers required from contractors, while requirements relating to vehicle capacity could benefit a particular bidder. These allegations were made during the general body discussion and have not been independently established in the report.
Councillors also said that the corporation spends more than ₹430 crore annually on sanitation and waste management, but wet and dry waste is not collected regularly in several wards. They alleged that waste remains uncollected for two to three days, creating foul odours and posing a risk to public health. Councillors further alleged that contractors who fail to perform are often issued notices rather than facing stronger action, while their payments are approved.
The corporation’s mayor has asked all councillors to submit feedback on cleanliness conditions in their respective wards and the performance of the contractors. Patil also directed the administration to provide detailed information on the tender process and its terms and conditions.
A final decision will be taken after a detailed discussion at the next general body meeting, according to the mayor’s instructions. The report does not state whether the contract has been suspended or whether payments to the contractors have been stopped pending the inquiry.
