Agartala, May 12: A delegation of Tipra Motha MLAs and MDCs on Tuesday met the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Roads and Buildings wing, and raised concerns over alleged restrictions preventing contractors enlisted under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) from participating in PWD tender processes.
The delegation was led by MLA Ranjit Debbarma and MDC Philip Kumar Reang. During the meeting, they submitted a memorandum highlighting the difficulties faced by contractors from TTAADC areas and sought immediate government intervention in the matter.
According to the memorandum, contractors enlisted under the TTAADC administration were earlier permitted to participate in Detailed Notice Inviting Tenders (DNITs) floated by the PWD (Roads and Buildings), Government of Tripura. However, the delegation alleged that recent restrictions imposed by the authorities have deprived these contractors of equal opportunities in government procurement processes.
The representatives claimed that the restrictions were directly affecting the livelihood of many contractors and creating uncertainty within the contractor community in ADC areas.
Citing a recent example, the delegation referred to a DNIT issued by the Executive Engineer of Khowai Division, PWD (R&B), for development of a road from Kalyan Manil to Dalan Tilla during the 2024-25 financial year. The project, estimated at Rs 1.45 crore, had earlier allowed participation of contractors registered with agencies including the TTAADC administration.
The delegation stated that contractors enlisted under the TTAADC had obtained licences after fulfilling all prescribed legal formalities and had successfully executed several government works in the past. They also pointed out that eligible contractors had received licence upgradation over time based on performance and fulfilment of departmental criteria.
According to the memorandum, several tenders submitted by TTAADC contractors through designated online platforms are currently pending at various stages of administrative approval and have remained stalled for a prolonged period.
The MLAs and MDCs urged the authorities to review the matter and issue necessary clarifications or orders allowing valid TTAADC-enlisted contractors to participate in PWD tenders as before. They also appealed to the government to ensure equal opportunity and fair competition in line with the state’s development goals.
