CHENNAI: Finance Minister N Marie Wilson on Wednesday said the TVK government has introduced major reforms in public procurement through an open tender system, ending cartelisation and improving transparency in government contracts. The move will strengthen Tamil Nadu’s finances by ensuring that tender money no longer flows to a select few, he said.Presenting the 2026-27 state Budget, the minister said the government has removed unnecessary certification requirements for contractors, enabling wider participation in tenders.“Earlier, only select cartels could participate. Now we have opened it to everyone,” he said, adding that several tenders in the past had become “competition-less tenders”, a practice the government has now reversed.The minister said the government has also delegated building approval powers to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), which, he claimed, has eliminated corruption in the approval process.He alleged that under the previous regime, tender money flowed to “specific people”, but said the new procurement reforms have ensured greater competition and transparency in the awarding of contracts.According to the minister, these measures will strengthen the state’s finances by improving efficiency, curbing leakages and ensuring better value for public spending.
