e-tendering in PWD Department

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an attempt to bring transparency to the Public Works Department, e-tendering introduced in the Thiruvananthapuram circle on Wednesday. PWD Minister V K Ebrahimkunju inaugurated the e-tender service and the web portal www.etenders.kerala.gov.in, thus making the PWD, the first department to introduce e-procurement in the state.  The programme was launched with the support of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Kerala State IT Mission. The PWD conducted workshops for the officials and contractors on the e-tendering procedures.  From now onwards, all tenders under the PWD will be through the web portal www.etenders.kerala.gov.in. The first-phase of the project is implemented in Thiruvananthapuram district. Contractors can log on to the website to fill the forms. They can submit tenders using the digital signature.  Ebrahimkunju said that e-tendering would be introduced in other districts within two months. He termed the introduction of e-tendering as one of the path-breaking initiative of the PWD. “PWD is the first department to introduce e-procurement,” he said. The Government has asked the Irrigation, Transport and Police departments too to introduce e-procurement. PWD secretary Manoj Joshi said that e-notification was introduced as the first step. “Second step is the introduction of e-tendering. As a third step, processing too will be made online,” he said. Tendering of projects above Rs 2 crore will be held online, he said.  “The contractors have to buy digital signature,” he added. Superintending engineer of Roads and Bridges, south circle, V Vijayakumar welcomed the gathering. Special secretary of IT Department K S Sreenivas presented the report. Principal Secretary of Finance Department V P Joy, MD of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Mohammed Hanish and KSTP project director N Prasanth spoke.