Govt rejects corruption charge against Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: The government has denied corruption allegations made by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh against Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Singh had alleged that Gadkari favoured IRB infrastructure to award a Rs 10,000 crore tunnel construction project in Jammu and Kashmir.

The road transport and highways ministry on Tuesday said an e-tendering process was adopted for award of the Zojila Tunnel contract under the ‘build, operate and transfer’ ( annuity) mode, with a concession period of 22 years, including seven years for construction of the tunnel.

“The contract was awarded after due diligence. The bid was found technically responsive. Financial bid was opened and the quoted semi annuity amount was found in line with the approval of CCEA for award of the work,” the ministry said in a statement.

Singh had alleged that Gadkari had business dealings with Dattatreya Mhaiskar, head of IRB, which had shares in Purti group floated by the minister. He had claimed Gadkari’s son, Nikhil, was director for some years in a subsidiary of IRB

The allegations of corruption made by Singh came from the fact that IRB was the single bidder for the project. On Monday, Gadkari had denied any wrong doing in award of the tender.