Tipra Motha MLAs and MDCs urged the PWD Chief Engineer to withdraw restrictions on TTAADC contractors in Tripura, alleging denial of equal bidding opportunities in government tenders and highlighting growing concerns over livelihoods, pending projects, and fair participation in development works.
Agitations over alleged restrictions imposed on contractors enlisted under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) intensified on Tuesday after a delegation of Tipra Motha MLAs and MDCs met the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Roads and Buildings wing, demanding immediate intervention in the matter.
The delegation submitted a memorandum highlighting what they described as growing discrimination against contractors from TTAADC-administered areas who were reportedly being prevented from participating in government tender processes floated by the PWD department.
According to the representatives, the restrictions imposed recently have directly affected the livelihood and economic stability of many contractors operating in tribal areas. They claimed that the sudden change in participation norms had created uncertainty among contractors who had been working under the government system for years after completing all required legal and administrative formalities.
In the memorandum, the elected representatives pointed out that contractors enlisted under the TTAADC administration had previously been allowed to participate in Detailed Notice Inviting Tenders (DNITs) issued by the PWD (Roads and Buildings), Government of Tripura. They argued that such participation had been a long-standing practice and had enabled tribal area contractors to contribute to infrastructure development projects across the state.
As an example, the delegation referred to a DNIT issued by the Executive Engineer of Khowai Division under the PWD (R&B), which invited online percentage rate e-tenders for the development of a road from Kalyan Manil to Dalan Tilla during the 2024-25 financial year. The project, estimated at around Rs 1.45 crore, had reportedly permitted contractors registered with agencies including the TTAADC administration to participate in the bidding process.
The representatives further stated that contractors enlisted under the TTAADC obtained licences only after fulfilling all prescribed legal requirements and technical conditions. They also maintained that many contractors had successfully executed government works in the past and received licence upgradations over time based on eligibility and satisfactory performance.
However, according to the memorandum, the contractors’ “legitimate rights” were allegedly curtailed recently without any official notification or detailed clarification from the authorities concerned. The delegation claimed that the abrupt restrictions had caused serious hardship among the contractor community and had negatively impacted equal opportunity in public procurement procedures.
The memorandum also alleged that several tenders submitted through designated online platforms for various development works were currently pending at different administrative stages and had remained unresolved for an extended period.
The Tipra Motha MLAs and MDCs urged the state government and the PWD authorities to review the matter urgently and issue necessary clarifications or directives allowing valid enlisted contractors under the TTAADC administration to participate in PWD tenders as before.
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They also appealed to the government to ensure transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity in tender allocation processes in line with the broader objective of inclusive development across Tripura, particularly in tribal and remote areas where infrastructure projects are considered crucial for economic growth and connectivity.
