A parliamentary committee has made a case for the introduction of e-tendering for the procurement of machines by railways while suggesting that there was a need to streamline the procedures followed by the public transporter.
In its latest report tabled in Parliament today, the 22-member Public Accounts Committee, headed by Congress MP KV Thomas, said it was unhappy upon finding that it takes about two to three years to procure machines for the civil engineering workshops (CEWs) due to procedural rigmaroles.
The PAC was also perturbed to observe that the funds given to the CEWs was less than the demand projected.
While viewing with serious concern the constraints being faced by the CEWs, the committee impressed upon the railway ministry the need to urgently assess these workshops’requirement of funds and accordingly take measures so that funds constraint did not impede their modernisation.
The committee also sought that the ministry streamline the processes and procedures by incorporating e-tendering for procurement and commissioning of modern machines so as to ensure their installation in a time-bound manner.
It also made a recommendation for time-bound action to explore the possibility of increased private participation with a view to helping the CEWs meet their growing requirements