HYDERABAD: The AP state Road Transport Corporation is issuing a tender notification on Wednesday for manufacture of high-security number plates for motor vehicles across the state.
According to RTC officials, May 7 is the last date for filing tenders and the tenders will be opened and the certificates and demand drafts will be examined on the same day.
The technical bids will be opened on May 8 and the financial bids on May 14.
The letter of award of contract will be given to the company which quotes the lowest price for manufacture of the number plates.
Fixing of plates to vehicles will begin on May 27.
The process of tenders has taken many twists and turns and even become controversial.
This is the third time that tenders are being invited for making of high-security number plates.
In October last year tenders were called but some advocates approached the Supreme Court complaining that the RTC did not follow the court’s guidelines.
After examining the tender process the court directed the state government to invite fresh tenders adhering to guidelines.
Accordingly, fresh tenders were invited on January 28 and four companies responded.
After technical bids were opened and financial bids were about to be opened, the government came to know though a judgment of the Allahabad High Court that one of the bidders had a criminal history, and asked the RTC to invite fresh tenders.
As per an affidavit submitted by the government to the court, fixing of number plates to vehicles has to begin on April 30.
In view of its impossibility now, the government is contemplating filing another affidavit seeking time till May 28.
The government had entrusted the number plates contract to the APSRTC.