Amid P&T apartment controversy, Kochi Corporation drops TDLC bid

file image | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

The Kochi Corporation has turned down a bid by the Thrissur District Labour Contract Cooperative Society (TDLC), the agency that constructed the now-controversial P&T Apartment Complex at Mundamveli in West Kochi, into which the Keralam government has ordered a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) probe.

TDLC had emerged as the lowest bidder in the tender floated by the Kochi Corporation in August for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for its proposed convention centre at Edappally. However, the Corporation has now decided to retender the project. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which had commissioned the P&T Apartment project, terminated TDLC’s services in July 2024.

“We could not have engaged an agency against which the Corporation council itself had passed a resolution seeking a Vigilance probe in connection with the Mundamveli issue. The fact that the company could participate in the tender indicates that it was not blacklisted despite its services being terminated following shortcomings in the apartment complex construction,” Mayor V.K. Minimol said.

Blacklisting sought

Sources associated with the previous GCDA administration, during whose tenure the apartment complex was commissioned, said they had written to the State government seeking the blacklisting of the company over the alleged deficiencies in construction. Since the GCDA does not have the authority to blacklist a company, it was for the government to take an appropriate decision, they said.