Gandhinagar: The state govt has capped deadline for processing and approving tenders for roads, bridges and other building projects to 55 to 66 days, depending on the category of tender. The decision, announced on Sunday, is intended to accelerate infrastructure works and eliminate avoidable delays in administrative procedures.According to an official statement, tenders without a pre-qualification requirement, in which only financial bids are invited, must be processed from the regional office through state secretariat and finance department within a maximum of 51 days. For tenders requiring pre-qualification, involving separate technical and financial bids, the complete process, including scrutiny at different levels, has been limited at 66 days.The govt has also cut the validity of tenders from 120 days to 90 days.The revised procedure says negotiations should be avoided, except in unavoidable circumstances after due process has resulted in more than one bid. If negotiations are deemed necessary, they must be conducted at only one level — that of the competent authority — rather than at multiple levels.Officials will have to record the reasons for any delay when a proposal is not cleared within the prescribed period. Responsibility for the delay will be fixed at the level concerned. In cases where delays are caused by incomplete proposals, accountability will rest entirely with the level that submitted them, the statement said.The prescribed timelines cover scrutiny and movement of proposals across offices, ensuring that files do not remain pending at any stage. The govt said the move would bring certainty to project execution and reduce delays arising from prolonged administrative decision-making.
