Road to bribery

KOCHI: Poorly built roads, which get damaged all too soon after repair, have resulted in allegations that an unholy nexus exists between contractors and officials while awarding civic contracts. With the allegations pointing towards the inherent loopholes in the system which allow the contractors to ‘manage’ the works, City Express tracks how this nexus results in the inferior quality of roads.TenderThere will be a group of registered contractors who regularly undertake work under the corporation. “There is an understanding between the contractors and if a particular contractor is interested in a specific work, he will tell others about it. Accordingly, the others will quote a higher amount. The employees in the tender scheduling will also help these contractors know the lowest bid amount,” an experienced contractor told Express.MaterialsThe contractor said that a particular rule specifies that for every road work in which more than 50 cubic metre of crushed metal is to be used, it is mandatory for the Vigilance wing of the Public Works Department (PWD) to get it measured. “Usually, the checking is done on a random basis. Here, there are chances for malpractice. Usually, the Vigilance wing used to inspect work sites once in fifteen days. So, if two ongoing works are there, then the contractors who undertake the works will arrive at a consensus. For instance, if 2,000 cubic metres of metal is needed for completing a particular work, the contractor will finish the work by using 1,000 cubic metres of and the remaining material will be transported to the next site where only 1,000 cubic metres is needed. Likewise, tar will also be transported from one site to the other during night time, ” sources said.AlterationThe contractor said that during inspection, the officials concerned will be very strict with the total length and width of the stretch. “They will measure the stretch strictly. Usually, the alterations are made under the roads with the volume of metal and chips used and the tar coating,” he said.BribeUsually, a bill of the civic work under the Corporation is sanctioned after passing through the hands of 18 officials. And for a work under the PWD, the file will pass through the hands of 10 officials. “I won’t say that everywhere we will have to pay bribes. But for a bill to get sanctioned from the corporation, we will have to bribe at least 10 officials. Likewise, in the case of PWD work, we will have to give bribe to at least 7 officials,” the sources said.Quality The contractors undertake the work with the expectations of a reasonable profit. But they will have to pay nearly twenty percent of the total work cost as bribe. “For example, if it is a work worth Rs. 1 lakh, we will have to pay at least Rs. 20,000 to various parties. Six percent of the amount will have to be given as tax. The contractor will take Rs. 20,000 as his profit. So the actual work will be done for Rs. 4,000,” the contractor said. He said that apart from the profit motive, the contractors were also forced to reduce the quality and quantity of materials owing to the quantum of bribe. “I would not say that all officials seek bribe, but most of them  do so,” the contractor added.