Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation has cancelled a tender related to works worth ₹1.35 crore at the Chief Minister’s library (Muthalvar Padaippagam) in Goundampalayam, following a report that alleged the job had been carried out earlier without calling for tenders under the label of “advance work”.
The library complex was built at a cost of ₹3.36 crore using Corporation funds during the previous DMK government and was inaugurated by then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin via video conference. Later, works on the second floor—roofing and development—were split into two components of ₹85 lakh and ₹55 lakh and executed without a tender process, which the report said violated rules. As tenders were not invited, the Corporation did not release payment, according to the report.
After the change in government, the Thaveka administration led by Chief Minister Vijay is in office, with the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department under the Chief Minister. The department has issued instructions emphasising transparent governance, including a temporary pause on tender procedures and directions not to issue work orders for tenders floated during the Assembly election period.
In Coimbatore, tenders were called for 40 works worth ₹26.50 crore, with contractors reportedly bidding competitively below estimates. The report alleged that several works were being executed without tenders as “advance work”, and that a tender had also been floated for the already-executed ₹1.35 crore work at the library.
Following the June 19 report, Corporation Commissioner Ravi Teja ordered cancellation of the tender for this particular work. The report further urged that all 40 works be field-verified, responsibility fixed for any tenderless execution, and departmental action taken, including against engineering officials if involved.
