Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader Peethala Murthy Yadav has raised objections over the tendering practices, of Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA). The VMRDA, has refuted the allegations of the former corporator.Mr. Yadav challenged the fairness of seven maintenance contracts collectively valued at over ₹4.5 crore. In his memorandum to the VMRDA Commissioner, he alleged that the tendering process was “tailor-made” to benefit specific contractors. He took particular aim at eligibility clauses, which required bidders to have prior experience with ₹5 crore projects to qualify for tenders worth just ₹50 lakh.In a swift rebuttal, the VMRDA dismissed the accusations as “completely baseless and far from the truth.” The authority maintained that all processes are strictly compliant with government norms, emphasising that all cost estimates are strictly benchmarked against the standard Schedule of Rates (SOR) to prevent inflation.Regarding the contested eligibility criteria, the VMRDA clarified that these conditions were deliberately maintained to ensure operational reliability. By allowing firms with proven experience in other urban bodies to participate—a policy carried over from the previous year—the authority stated it ensures that maintenance challenges are met by qualified, local entities capable of prompt resolution. The VMRDA concluded by reaffirming its commitment to integrity, asserting that every tender is processed exclusively via the Andhra Pradesh e-procurement portal, effectively eliminating the potential for manual interference or bias.Speaking to The Hindu, VMRDA chairman MV Pranav Gopal said, “The government is committed to providing services at international standards. We are following through on this. The allegations are baseless.” Published - June 29, 2026 10:04 pm IST