BBMP contractors to stop work on July 5 to address delayed bill clearances

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Contractors Association has announced a suspension of work on Monday in protest against delayed payment of bills – its second such action in two years.

KT Manjunath, president of the association, criticised the BBMP for not making payments in the past two years despite having sufficient funds.

“Officials are withholding payments even though funds are available in the city administration’s account,” he explained, pointing to an increase in bureaucratic processes that slow down the release of invoices.

Manjunath further alleged that the BBMP had reserved 25 per cent of the government grant for discretionary payments, bypassing the seniority criterion.

BBMP officials refuted these allegations and claimed that they had introduced a Technical Vigilance Cell under the Commissioner (TVCC) and a Quality Control Cell to improve work standards. They denied any deliberate delay in payments and pointed out that the 24-month gap between completion of work and payment was a common practice and was known to the contractors even before the contract was awarded.