K'taka launches e-Procurement system

Bangalore, Mar 31(UNI) Karnataka Government today launched e-Procurement system, a key e-governance initiative, to ensure transparency, efficiency and healthy competition in its departmental works.

The system, first-of-its-kind in the country, is a single comprehensive platform designed to handle works, goods and services procurement.

The public-private partnership with HP, an IT company, will also include e-Payment to handle electronic transfer of Earnest Money Deposit and payment due to contractors through National Electronic Fund Transfer System and Over the Counter facilities.

HP had developed this system and was implementing it for the first time in the country after its execution by the Japanese Government seven years ago.

The company officials said the new system had been customised to meet the needs of the State after going through feed-back received from Japan.

Some of the departments that had been notified initially to go live with the e-Procurement system are --Public Works Department, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Karnataka Road Development Corporation and Centre for e-Governance.

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur, who inaugurated the scheme, today said it would help reduce corruption and adminstrative delays in procurement.

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