The Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation has deferred, for the second time, a proposal seeking an inquiry into and possible cancellation of its Rs 957.64 crore solid-waste management tender, leaving questions over the procurement process and the delivery of essential sanitation services unresolved.
The proposal was listed for discussion before the corporation’s general body after concerns were raised by corporators about the tender process. However, it was deferred before the discussion began. Loksatta reported that the proposal had already been postponed once earlier, making the latest deferment the second consecutive delay.
The five-year contract covers daily sweeping of roads and public places, cleaning of drain chambers, door-to-door waste collection and transportation of waste to the dumping ground. These services form the core of the municipal corporation’s day-to-day sanitation system and directly affect residents across Vasai-Virar.
The contract was issued after the terms of earlier waste-management contractors expired last year. According to the report, the municipal administration conducted the tender process three times before issuing the latest contracts on a ward-wise basis. The contracts, covering the period from 2025-26 to 2030-31, were awarded to Amrut Enterprises, R N B Infra Pvt Ltd and Crystal Integrated Services Ltd for a combined value of Rs 957.64 crore.
Corporators had alleged that the tender was issued hastily and demanded a detailed inquiry into the process. Their demand also included cancellation of the tender if irregularities were established. The allegations come as the municipal corporation’s solid-waste disposal operations are already facing scrutiny, according to the report.
A similar proposal was placed before the general body on August 31, 2026, seeking a detailed investigation into the tender process and its cancellation. On that occasion, the mayor deferred the proposal and directed that comments be recorded before the matter was brought forward again. The report identifies the mayor as Ajeev Patil.
The latest deferment means that the corporation’s general body has not yet taken a decision on whether the tender should be formally investigated or cancelled. It also leaves the status of the three awarded contracts unchanged in the material supplied for the report.
The dispute illustrates how large municipal service contracts can become central to urban governance. Waste collection, street cleaning and disposal depend not only on the appointment of contractors but also on clear tender conditions, effective monitoring and timely political and administrative review. In Vasai-Virar, the immediate question remains whether the corporation will place a detailed report before the general body and proceed with a decision on the tender.
The matter is expected to return for consideration after the detailed report and comments sought by the mayor are submitted.
