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BMC Approves ₹11.18 Crore Election Works Awarded Without Tenders
Mumbai’s civic body approved spending ₹11.18 crore on election-related work after the work had already been assigned without regular tenders.
The biggest part, ₹10.81 crore, was for data entry operators working on the SIR of electoral rolls.
Up to 40 operators worked in each of 36 Assembly constituencies for four months.
The BMC said there was not enough time to use the normal tender process.
Other spending included food for workers checking electronic voting machines.
It also included urgent repairs at an EVM warehouse.
The BMC Standing Committee approved the decisions afterward.
Critics could question the lack of competition, while the BMC described the work as urgent.
The BMC Standing Committee approved ₹11.18 crore in election-related works awarded without tenders.
The largest proposal, worth ₹10.81 crore, covers data entry operators for the SIR of electoral rolls.
Up to 40 operators were deployed in each of Mumbai’s 36 Assembly constituencies for four months.
The package also includes EVM inspection refreshments, warehouse repairs, equipment transport and manpower arrangements.
The BMC cited urgency and limited time while seeking post-facto relaxation under Section 72(3) of the 1888 Act.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and its Standing Committee; data entry operators, Bharat Electronics Limited engineers and BMC personnel were involved in the related work.
- What
- The Standing Committee approved ₹11.18 crore in election-related works awarded without inviting tenders, including ₹10.81 crore for SIR data entry work.
- Where
- Mumbai, including 36 Assembly constituencies and EVM facilities in Vikhroli and Kandivali.
- When
- The approval was reported on September 23, 2026; EVM inspections took place from December 15 to 29, 2025.
- Why
- The BMC cited urgency and insufficient time to complete the work through e-tendering and public advertisements.
BMC’s Urgency Justification
Tender Transparency Concerns
Bypassing tenders
BMC’s Urgency Justification
The BMC said urgent election deadlines and insufficient time required it to engage agencies and contractors without e-tendering or public advertisements.
Tender Transparency Concerns
Works were awarded without inviting competitive tenders, prompting questions about the transparency and competitiveness of the process.
Post-facto approval
BMC’s Urgency Justification
The Standing Committee approved relaxation of tendering norms after the works were undertaken, under the provision cited by the BMC.
Tender Transparency Concerns
Seeking approval after assignments were made limits prior oversight of how contractors and service providers were selected.
Key facts
- Total approved expenditure
- ₹11.18 crore
- SIR data-entry proposal
- ₹10.81 crore
- Operator deployment
- Up to 40 operators across each of 36 Assembly constituencies for four months
- Operator monthly rate
- ₹28,520 per operator, including taxes
- EVM inspection refreshments
- ₹8.83 lakh for engineers and BMC personnel
- Warehouse repairs
- ₹4.99 lakh for civil and electrical repairs at the Sanskriti Sankul EVM warehouse
- Legal provision cited
- Section 72(3) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888
Sources
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