IAS officer and Tambaram Corporation Commissioner S Balachander was transferred on Tuesday (15 September 2026) evening, hours after anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam flagged alleged irregularities in the corporation’s tender process, as reported in Times of India.
The transfer order was also marked to the Vigilance Commissioner. R Saranya, Commissioner of Avadi Corporation, has been given additional charge of the Tambaram Corporation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Arappor Iyakkam submitted complaints to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and senior officials of the Municipal Administration Department, alleging that the tender process had been used to regularise works that had already been completed.
The organisation alleged that two projects worth a combined Rs 45.9 lakh were completed and inaugurated before the tenders for the works were opened for public bidding. It identified Balachander as the tender-inviting authority and alleged that contractors had effectively been selected before the completion of the tender process. Arappor sought an inquiry and criminal action if the allegations were established.
The first tender, valued at Rs 27.3 lakh, related to the installation of an Ashoka Pillar statue, landscaping and beautification works at the Perungalathur Bridge Roundtana. Arappor said the tender was published on the Tamil Nadu Tenders portal on August 6 and bids were scheduled to be opened on August 24. However, the organisation said the work had already been completed and inaugurated on July 29.
The second tender, worth Rs 18.6 lakh, was for a Save Water Concept statue, landscaping and beautification works at the Chitlapakkam Roundtana. It was also published on August 6, with bids scheduled to be opened on August 24. Arappor said the work had been completed and inaugurated on August 10.
Arappor questioned how the works could have been executed before the tenders were finalised and alleged possible collusion between corporation officials and contractors. It also questioned whether a genuine competitive bidding process had taken place.
The organisation also flagged the status of other tenders floated by the corporation. According to its analysis of 565 tenders issued over the previous four months, only one had reached the ‘award of contract’ stage. As of September 11, it said 309 tenders were listed as ‘to be opened’, 194 as ‘bid opening’ and 26 as ‘technical evaluation’.
Balachander, when contacted by The Times of India, reportedly denied any malicious intent on the part of the corporation. He explained that a private contractor associated with a flagship media house had proposed building the statue at two locations and that the proposal had subsequently been approved through a council resolution in July. He said the work at Perungalathur had been completed by the contractor on July 29.
Regarding the Save Water statue, Balachander reportedly said the work had been carried out by the contractor who had built the statue as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative.
He reportedly attributed the issue to a communication lapse, stating that although the corporation had issued a tender notice, it was never opened for bidding. He also said an assistant engineer had been suspended and that an inquiry was underway into the matter involving corporation officials.
Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar was unavailable for comment.
#Breaking Tamil Nadu govt admits procedural lapse on Tambaram Corporation tenders. Takes action on key officials.
The Tamil Nadu government has initiated action against officials of Tambaram City Municipal Corporation after a preliminary inquiry found procedural lapses in the… pic.twitter.com/lE7t1bTiNn
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) September 15, 2026
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