Centre cancels Rs 1,950-cr BharatNet project in Tamil Nadu

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Friday ordered the scrapping of a Rs 1,950 crore tender for the BharatNet project in Tamil Nadu stating the bidding conditions were “restrictive” and “discriminatory”.

In a communication to state Chief Secretary K Shanmugam, the DPIIT asked for floating fresh tenders.

The communication stated that Tamil Nadu Fibernet Corporation Limited (TAFINET) should immediately scrap the Rs 1,950-crore BharatNet tender and should float fresh tenders with “non-restrictive” qualification criteria.

The tender got mired in controversy with allegations of corruption and charge raised by Chennai-based Arappor Iyakkam, that changes in the tender were made to favour a few companies.