bengaluru: The transformer repair tender process of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has come under a cloud after a series of abrupt cancellations, last-minute changes and alleged violations of procurement norms triggered serious questions about transparency and administrative accountability within the state-run power utility.
The controversy centres on the tender for repairing distribution transformers, commonly referred to as transformer coil (tc) repair works. every two year, BESCOM invites tenders worth hundreds of crores of rupees to repair damaged transformers across its jurisdiction. the process is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted electricity supply to millions of consumers across bengaluru and surrounding districts.
However, this year’s tender exercise has sparked a storm within the department after unusual administrative decisions taken by BESCOM managing director shivashankar created confusion among contractors and officials. insiders say the sudden cancellation of tenders just before the deadline, followed by overnight newspaper notifications for fresh tenders and their subsequent withdrawal within hours, has raised doubts about the manner in which the process has been handled.
officials say such repeated reversals are highly unusual in public procurement and have led to allegations that due procedures under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act may not have been properly followed.
the developments have also drawn attention to the role of the BESCOM leadership. shivashankar, who originally served as a Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer and was later promoted to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), is facing criticism from sections within the department who believe the tender process has been mishandled.
questions are also being raised about the silence of the state’s energy department, as the controversy surrounding the tender continues to grow.
- alleged violation of ktpp rules
One of the most serious allegations surrounding the tender process is the possible violation of provisions under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act. the legislation lays down strict procedures designed to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in government contracts.
according to officials familiar with the process, BESCOM currently operates 47 transformer repair centres across its jurisdiction. as the tenure of existing contracts came to an end, fresh tenders were invited for all the centres in accordance with standard procedure.
however, officials allege that soon after the process began, the management altered its stance and singled out a few centres for restructuring. out of the total 47 centres, three were reportedly selected and divided into six segments.
critics argue that if such restructuring was necessary, it should have been done before the tender notification was issued. altering the structure of the contract after the bidding process has begun not only disrupts competition but also raises concerns about whether the rules governing procurement were followed.
the KTPP framework also requires authorities to examine factors such as the number of transformers being damaged or burnt in a particular area and the performance of existing contractors before establishing additional repair facilities. officials say these assessments were allegedly not carried out before the centres were divided.
- questions over focus on select centres
Another issue that has drawn attention is the decision to focus only on a handful of centres while leaving the remaining network unchanged.
although BESCOM operates 47 repair centres, officials say the restructuring reportedly affected centres in gubbi, tumakuru, tiptur and nelamangala. the decision to divide these specific centres has led to speculation within the department about the reasons behind the move.
officials argue that if the objective was to improve operational efficiency, the authorities could have undertaken a comprehensive review of all repair centres rather than selectively altering a few. the sudden urgency to restructure only certain centres has therefore raised suspicions among contractors and insiders alike.
the timing of these decisions, coming just days before the tender deadline, has further deepened the controversy.
- experienced officers sidelined
Senior officials within BESCOM privately express concern that the tender process has been unnecessarily complicated by inconsistent administrative decisions. they point out that the organisation has several experienced technical and administrative officers capable of handling procurement procedures efficiently.
divisional and senior engineering officials routinely manage complex contracts involving power infrastructure without controversy. however, insiders claim that repeated interventions from the top leadership have slowed down the process and created uncertainty.
officials say that decisions regarding the tender appear to change frequently, with administrative directions issued in the morning sometimes reversed by the evening. as a result, the transformer repair tender remains delayed and uncertain despite being formally initiated.
- complaints against contractors remain pending
The controversy has also brought attention to complaints previously submitted against several transformer repair contractors operating within the BESCOM jurisdiction.
documents submitted to the management reportedly contain allegations against companies including sri bairaveshwara electrical works of challakere, sri bairaveshwara electricals of kunigal, achu power equipment of hiriyur, micro power of kengeri and maruti electricals of madhugiri.
in one complaint, it is alleged that transformers sent for repair to the challakere-based contractor were not returned to the division office for nearly six months. there have also been claims that some repaired transformers malfunctioned repeatedly after being reinstalled in the field.
officials in the concerned division, including the executive engineer and the superintending engineer, are said to have issued notices highlighting these issues. however, according to sources within the department, no decisive action has been taken against the companies concerned so far.
critics argue that performance records of contractors are a crucial factor when new tenders are issued. if complaints against contractors remain unresolved, the credibility of the procurement system itself comes under question.
- concerns over administrative competence
The controversy has inevitably triggered debate about administrative leadership within BESCOM. insiders note that while shivashankar rose through the administrative ranks from the Karnataka Administrative Service before being promoted to the IAS, the power distribution sector requires a high level of technical coordination between engineers, contractors and administrators.
some officials privately argue that the handling of the tender process reflects a lack of familiarity with the operational complexities of transformer repair networks. they fear that continued uncertainty in procurement could eventually affect the efficiency of BESCOM’s maintenance system.
for a public utility responsible for supplying electricity to millions of consumers, even minor disruptions in transformer repair services can lead to prolonged outages and operational difficulties.
as the controversy deepens, the transformer repair tender has become a test of governance standards within one of karnataka’s most critical public utilities. whether the state government orders an inquiry or introduces corrective measures to restore confidence in the procurement process remains to be seen.
@BESCOM
