Judicial Scrutiny Intensifies Over GMADA's ₹790-Crore Infrastructure Tender Amid Contractor Allegations

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has initiated formal proceedings regarding a contentious ₹790-crore tender issued by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), following a petition filed by registered contractors. The judicial intervention stems from allegations that GMADA's January 11 bidding document, which consolidated the entire GMADA jurisdiction into a single compact zone, potentially violates established procurement protocols and fair competition principles. Legal analysts note this development signals heightened judicial oversight of public infrastructure procurement processes in the region. The contractors' plea specifically seeks annulment of the tender document, arguing the consolidation model may disadvantage smaller qualified bidders and contravene transparency norms. GMADA, tasked with urban development in Mohali and surrounding sectors, must now formally respond to these allegations, setting the stage for a potentially precedent-setting examination of tender allocation methodologies in public sector infrastructure projects. This case emerges amid broader scrutiny of large-scale public contracts across Indian development authorities, with outcomes likely to influence future procurement frameworks and contractor-government relations in the infrastructure sector.