Jaipur : Serious allegations of corruption, procedural manipulation, and collusion within Rajasthan’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) have surfaced after a ₹415-crore mega tender under the Central Government’s AMRUT 2.0 scheme was reportedly cancelled three times amid claims of favoritism toward select contractors.
The controversial tender, identified as NIB No. 04/2025-26, was floated to strengthen the water supply network in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Jaipur Municipal Corporation Greater. However, official documents accessed by media platform “Expose Now” allegedly reveal repeated cancellation of the tender process due to procedural lapses, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability within the department.
Repeated Cancellation Raises Suspicion
According to the documents, the tender process was annulled on three separate occasions, allegedly because of administrative irregularities and non-compliance with provisions of the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Act and RTPP Rules, 2013.
Sources within the department claim that whenever a “preferred” company appeared to be falling behind during technical or financial evaluation, legal and procedural loopholes were deliberately left unresolved to create grounds for cancellation of the tender.
Officials reportedly failed to publish multiple corrigenda related to the tender in local newspapers, despite mandatory requirements under procurement rules. The omission is being viewed as a serious procedural violation that may have compromised the integrity of the entire bidding process.
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Eight Corrigenda Allegedly Withheld from Public Domain
One of the most significant allegations pertains to the issuance of eight corrigenda during the tender process without publication in newspapers.
As per procurement norms, any major amendment or corrigendum to a public tender must be adequately publicized to ensure equal opportunity and transparency for all bidders. Critics allege that withholding these corrigenda may have restricted fair competition and created room for selective advantage.
A departmental committee reportedly admitted that the tender process had become legally “tainted” and described the situation as a “fait accompli,” leaving no option but to cancel the tender and invite fresh bids.
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Five Major Firms Were in the Race
The ₹415-crore project had attracted participation from several prominent infrastructure and engineering firms. Technical bids were reportedly opened on December 16, 2025.
The companies involved included:
- DNC Infratech Pvt. Ltd.
- GCKC Projects and Works Pvt. Ltd.
- Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd.
- Vishnu Prakash R Punglia Ltd. in joint venture with Vindhya Telelinks Ltd.
- LNA Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd. in joint venture with GKR Infracon India Pvt. Ltd.
Speculation within departmental circles has intensified over whether repeated cancellations were intended to favour one specific bidder.
Damage Control Measures Initiated
Following mounting scrutiny, the PHED has reportedly initiated internal damage-control measures.
Authorities have issued show-cause notices to officials held responsible for the alleged lapses. However, critics argue that mere departmental notices are insufficient given the scale of the project and the repeated cancellation of the tender.
The department has also ordered a review of all tenders cancelled over the last two to three years to identify recurring procedural failures and potential patterns of manipulation.
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In its defense, PHED officials reportedly stated that tender advertisements had been forwarded to the Department of Information and Public Relations Rajasthan for publication. However, questions continue to be raised over why no internal monitoring mechanism existed to ensure compliance.
Questions Over Accountability
The controversy has triggered sharp criticism from opposition voices and transparency advocates, who are demanding a full-scale investigation into the matter.
Key questions now being raised include:
- Why has no FIR been registered despite the tender being cancelled three times?
- Was the process deliberately manipulated to facilitate backdoor entry for a favoured or ineligible contractor?
- How long will Jaipur residents continue to suffer delays in critical drinking water infrastructure projects due to alleged corruption and bureaucratic infighting?
Impact on Public Welfare Projects
The AMRUT 2.0 scheme is one of the Central Government’s flagship urban development programmes aimed at improving water supply, sewerage, and urban infrastructure across Indian cities.
Experts warn that repeated disruptions in tendering and project execution could severely delay essential drinking water infrastructure for Jaipur residents, while also escalating project costs borne by taxpayers.
The latest controversy has once again placed the spotlight on governance standards, procurement transparency, and institutional accountability within Rajasthan’s infrastructure departments.