RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has decided to hold a competition between Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), National Logistics Cell (NLC), Railcop Private Limited and National Construction Limited to decide which one would carry out work on theremodelling of Katchery Chowk, a project worth Rs5.1 billion.

Earlier, in March, RDA called tenders for the project in March 2022 from FWO and NLC but later cancelled the process due to changes in the project design.

RDA Chief Engineer Dr Habibul Haq Randhawa sent a letter to all four asking each to participate in direct contracting for the project.

“In pursuance of approval by the head procuring agency/ authority, you are hereby requested to participate in direct contracting as per PPRA Rules 59(e) for the subject work,” the letter stated, adding: “Under Rule 59(e) direct contracting with an organisation, owned and controlled by the government for procurement of works, services and consultancy services, a procuring agency shall engage an organisation under the administrative control of the government, federal government or other provincial government, registered with the authority, in direct contracting, if the project is time bound or sensitive and its information cannot be shared with private sector.”

In the letter, the RDA chief engineer wrote that“four firms are requested to receive the tender documents of above mentioned works from his office and the same may be submitted in his office with technical (in-house capacity) and financial bid in two separate sealed envelopes on Sept 21 by 2pm”.

Sealed technical envelope must contain in-house capacity details with proof besides memorandum of association/registration certificate of the firm, NTN and PRA registration certificate, the letter stated, adding in order to be eligible for direct contracting, the firm should have an annual construction turnover of minimum Rs5 billion during fiscal year 2020-21 and it must have minimum networking capital of Rs6 billion during financial year 2020-21 as well as at least two annual audit reports from the last 10 years.

It further stated that the firms/ partners/ directors must also not have gone into plea bargain with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or any other agency whereas any information provided in the documents if proved or found fake or forged at any stage will lead to cancellation of application in pre-qualification.

When contacted, Mr Randhawa confirmed all this to Dawn and said that earlier submitting of financial bids was fixed to Sept 22.

Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has given approval of new design for the remodelling project to cater to maximum traffic on the main junction of the garrison city. It will be completed within 24 months without closure of traffic on the main square.

Under the new design, the flyover will be constructed to cater to traffic coming from Rawat after construction of Kharian Motorway which connects to Grand Trunk Road and upcoming Rawalpindi Ring Road. It will provide an easy route to 131,500 vehicles per day.

The cost of the project escalated from Rs4.8 billion to Rs6.4 billion for two reasons including adding flyover in the project and 25 percent increase of rates of construction material.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2022