In an attempt to attract more companies for the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMCH) upgradation programme, the Nagpur
Improvement Trust (NIT) has extended the date of tender submission by a month. Till date, three companies have purchased the tender forms, a NIT official informed. However, five to six companies had approached NIT and its project consultant Ernst & Young with a request that the date be extended as they were not aware of the project. The project will be executed on built operate and transfer (BOT) basis.
NIT officials said that they took the decision to extend the date by a month from October 16 to November 16 as in any case the project would have not moved ahead due to code of conduct. "Even after code of conduct not much would happen as government formation and allotment of portfolios would take time," an official explained.
The vital project was mooted way back in 2003 but has remained on the drawing board due to red tape. NIT had finalized the BOT operator way back in December 2007. It had signed an agreement with the operator. However, the then medical education minister Dilip Walse-Patil stayed the agreement as he did not find it satisfactory. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the operator was Maytas which landed into major financial controversy in mid-2008.
NIT officials said that while the tender has been finalized, the government needs to take two major decisions for smooth execution of the project. Medical education secretary Bhushan Gagrani had agreed to hand over the first phase of the Mayo upgradation project to NIT. Presently, PWD has been entrusted with the job. However, PWD has not been able to start work as the architect appointed by the Nagpur chief engineer has not been approved by high power committee of PWD ministry.
Another problem is that medical education and drugs department (MEDD) is yet to formulate a plan to shift the staffers residing in the medical colony opposite Ajni railway station. The BOT operator would need the land for two years before it can complete the flats for the staffers. Unless alternative accommodation is arranged for there is bound to be strong resistance.