In order to replace its old dredgers and increase productivity, Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) would add three more trailer suction hopper dredgers to its fleet by 2014.

   Of this, one dredger from the Netherlands, that DCI would receive in December, would be deployed at the Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam for beach nourishment. DIC has been taking up the exercise annually in the beach where it dredges and pumps 3 lakh cubic metre of sand to nourish the beach.

   The company expects to receive another dredger in July-August next year and one more the following year (2014). The company is said to have suffered badly owing to the aging fleet during the past financial year and the global economic slowdown had also contributed significantly.

   DCI is competing with the private dredging companies and getting works on a competitive basis. In the past, it used to get works on a nomination basis, but now it has to fight competition.

   Meanwhile, the company is introducing reforms in procurement wherein it adopted electronic platform in order to curb the scope for corruption.

 DCI's Vigilance Officer S Vasudeva Rao said E-procurement was by no means a panacea, but it would greatly mitigate corruption.

   It would give an equal and fair chance to all bidders and discretionary powers would be reduced. Collusive bidding could also be prevented.