Highway Construction

Byculla zoo’s revamp

Highway Construction’s last revamp contracts were scrapped in 2016

Tainted zoo contractor wins revamp project again

Penguin project coordinator was a part of blacklisted firm Romin Chedha represented controversial contractor Tanmay Rai's company that allegedly cheated the BMC

We completed all the work and there is no issue with the penguin enclosure. The previous controversy is now a closed chapter. We are following whatever the BMC is telling us. Romin Chedha, Coordinator, Highway Construction

BMC chief Ajoy Mehta

Samajwadi Party

Mirror’s reports on the company’s irregularities

Nearly 2 years sincewas thrown out after Mirror’s exposé, BMC says no issue with having it back on board.The BMC’s claim of a no-tolerance policy against tainted contractors is an eyewash. Nearly two years after it scrapped tenders for thefollowing a Mirror exposé that the contractor for the penguin enclosure had submitted fake documents to win the tender, the civic body has picked the same company for a part of the facility’s Rs 125-crore renovation.In defence of the indefensible, the BMC said since it had already penalised the company and its work with the enclosure was found “up to the mark”. The selection was made earlier this month and the contract will be awarded soon.Mirror’s sustained coverage had thrown the lid off Uttar Pradesh-based company M/s Highway Construction’s irregularities. It claimed to have had a joint venture with American firm Sivat Services, which specialises in aquatic exhibits, and submitted a number of bogus documents and recommendation letters. This paper found no such pact with Sivat, which meant that a company with expertise only in roads and civil works had landed the job of building a penguin exhibit.The zoo’s makeover has been split into two — Mumbai-based M/s Skyway Construction will build 10 animal enclosures for Rs 60 crore and Highway Construction will build seven for Rs 65 crore.Highway Construction’s previous contracts to renovate the zoo were scrapped following the Mirror’s reports and the death of one of the eight Humboldt penguins in 2016.The BMC levied a fine on the company and forfeited its deposit of Rs 1.5 crore. It thereafter floated two sets of tenders three times, but received poor response. The latest tenders were floated in September 2017. Skyway Construction won one of the contracts in March this year.A senior civic official said the BMC followed a “transparent procedure” for the new contracts. “We imposed a penalty on the contractor. We have no issue with its work with the penguin enclosure. The enclosure is a world-class facility and has become a new city landmark.”A zoo official, too, vouched for the company’s performance. “After the controversy, there was a change in the firm’s management and there has been no irregularity at all. It has completed the work as required. It is now important to make sure that the zoo is renovated as soon as possible.”Romin Chedha, Highway Construction’s coordinator for the penguin and zoo projects, said the company fulfilled all requirements for the contract and that there was no irregularity. “We delivered as per the BMC’s requirements. We completed all the work and there is no issue with the penguin enclosure. The previous controversy is now a closed chapter. We are following whatever the BMC is telling us.”He claimed that the procedure followed was above board. “We submitted bids and emerged the lowest bidders on merit. We have maintained the penguin exhibit for over a year now without any hitch.”He blamed Sivat for the submission of fake documents and alleged that Highway Construction was targeted “for political reasons”.asserted that there was no irregularity with the latest tender processes. “I had asked the zoo department to review all tenders and then take a call. I told them to take action as per procedure and award contracts in a transparent manner.”Another senior civic official said the BMC had ensured that there was more competition during the tender process. “We split the tenders to ensure that there was no monopoly. We are confident that zoo will be renovated by the end of next year.”corporator Rais Shaikh demanded that the BMC fast-track the zoo’s revamp “since it has decided to put the controversy to rest”.