RAWALPINDI: A joint venture company, grouping a Turkish and a local firm, has won the contract for the construction of underpass from Parade Lane to Pakistan Secretariat section of metro bus project.

Though the bid was a little above the cost estimated by the government, it was still lowest compared to other bidders.

The official cost of the bid was Rs2.312 billion whereas the joint venture, Lemac-Reliable, gave Rs2.314 billion bid, which was 0.07 per cent higher.

However, the relevant official found nothing wrong with the bid and said that the official cost was Rs2.312 billion and joint group collectively gave Rs2.314 billion bid, but it was lowest.

“It is normal to contract out a development project at a cost more than the estimated one. There is nothing unusual,” said Rawalpindi Commissioner and metro bus project director Zahid Saeed, while talking to Dawn.

In Rawalpindi, NLC had also won the contract on a higher bid to contruct the Committee Chowk to 6th Road section of the project.

In Islamabad, work has been divided in five sections from Faizabad to Peshawar Mor, Peshawar Mor to Centaurus Mall, Centaurus Mall to Shaheed-i-Milat Road and underpass from Parade Lane to Pakistan Secretariat. For two sections from Faizabad to Peshawar Mor and Peshawar Mor Intersection, the executing body, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), on Thursday awarded contract to two firms, Habib Construction Company and NLC.

The metro bus project has been divided in three sections in Rawalpindi and five sections in Islamabad. Instead of a single company, the government decided to award the contract to different firms.

As explained by the project director, involvement of various companies would enable the government to complete the task in stipulated time by end of January 2015.

“In fact, we are awarding contracts on the pattern of Lahore metro bus project. It proved to be successful as different companies were involved there and work was completed in stipulated time frame,” said Commissioner Saeed.