PUNE: Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) was supposed to install Light-Emitting Diode (LED) fittings on streets replacing old conventional fittings in areas under KCB jurisdiction in 2017. But since the tender was recalled two times, the project is still yet to start.
According to SV Patil, Junior Engineer of KCB, around 2,920 High-Pressure Mercury Vapour Lamps (HPMV) street lights will be replaced by LED fittings which will save up to 30 to 40 per cent of energy.
After the project was passed by the board in 2017, the tender was recalled twice till now and finally, the tender of Rs 2 lakh has been finalised now. The time period for completion of this project is of six months. Patil said, “The work will be completed in two months.”
Amol Jagtap, CEO of KCB, said, “The two tenders invited earlier had quoted high rates. Hence, we had to recall it, which consumed time. The earlier tender estimated cost Rs 2.63 lakh, while the current agency has quoted Rs 2 lakh. It can be also noticed that, the current agency has quoted lower rates and it is found that the said lowest rates are 23.05 per cent below to the estimated cost and 41.40 per cent below to the rates accepted by PCB, as the same agency is working over the same project in PCB limits installing approximately 2,700 fittings.”
