Kochi Corporation rejects TDLC bid for convention-centre project
Kochi Corporation has rejected the lowest bid from the Thrissur District Labour Contract Cooperative Society to prepare a project report for a proposed convention centre. The decision follows controversy over TDLC’s construction of the P&T Apartment Complex and an ordered Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau probe.
The Kochi Corporation has rejected a bid by the Thrissur District Labour Contract Cooperative Society to prepare a Detailed Project Report for a proposed convention centre at Edappally. TDLC had emerged as the lowest bidder in a tender floated by the Corporation in August. The civic body has now decided to retender the project, Mayor V.K.
Minimol said. The decision comes amid controversy over the P&T Apartment Complex at Mundamveli in West Kochi, which was constructed by TDLC. The Keralam government has ordered a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau probe into the apartment project.
Ms. Minimol said the Corporation could not engage an agency against which its council had passed a resolution seeking a Vigilance probe. She also questioned why TDLC had not been blacklisted after its services were terminated over alleged shortcomings in the apartment complex.
The Greater Cochin Development Authority ended TDLC’s services in July 2024. GCDA sources said more than ₹1 crore was withheld from the company’s bills, against a project estimate of ₹14.62 crore, and that recovery proceedings were initiated for ₹4.35 crore over construction defects. The sources said TDLC had been appointed without a tender because it was an accredited government-project agency.
They said the decision was known to the Local Self-Government Department and Life Mission. They also said completing the project was prioritised to relocate families affected by tidal flooding. TDLC vice-president M.R.
Raveendran disputed that account. He said the estimate had been reduced from more than ₹20 crore, causing compromises, and that unpaid bills and rising steel prices had caused losses. He said TDLC had documents to establish its innocence and that an earlier Vigilance inquiry had found no irregularities.
The P&T Apartment Protest Committee is seeking further inquiries, including into alleged asset accumulation by GCDA engineering officials. It plans to continue its protest and seeks a meeting with the Chief Minister after a meeting expected on October 6.
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