Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 8: Jammu and Kashmir Central Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCCC) has threatened to boycott Government tenders if their demands are not addressed, citing delayed payments and budgetary neglect as key concerns. The warning was issued today during a visit to Kupwara district, part of a North-South outreach program aimed at highlighting contractors’ grievances.
Led by JKCCCC general secretary Farooq Dar, the delegation expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Government’s handling of contractors’ issues. Dar criticized the recent budget for failing to meet expectations, accusing both the ruling party and the opposition of sidelining contractors’ concerns despite highlighting their work during election campaigns.
Key issues raised included a severe shortage of construction materials, delayed payments and complications within the tendering process. Dar emphasized that contractors were under financial strain due to outstanding payments and urged the authorities to release them immediately.
He also warned that the trend of contractors submitting bids 40-50% below the advertised prices for public tenders posed a serious threat to the quality of construction work. According to Dar, tenders are usually based on expert estimates, and accepting significantly lower bids could compromise the durability and safety of infrastructure projects. While the Government may view these bids as cost-effective, Dar argued that they could lead to higher long-term expenses due to the need for repairs.
To address these challenges, Dar proposed reforms to the tendering process, including exempting contracts up to Rs 10 lakh from e-tendering requirements and making tenders up to Rs 5 crore condition-free. These changes, he suggested, would help protect smaller contractors and ensure smoother execution of development projects.
The meeting was attended by JKCCCC senior leader Gh Rasool Mir, secretary Arshid Ahmed Bhat and other committee members, including Gh Mohideen and Farooq Ahmed. Dar concluded by stressing that contractors play a vital role in the region’s development and should be treated with respect and fairness to ensure timely and high-quality completion of public projects.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel