RAWALPINDI: The National Logistics Cell (NLC) and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) will participate in the bidding for the contract of the Kutchery Chowk remodeling project as two other government firms refused to participate in the process.

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had invited Railcop Private Limited and National Construction Limited (NC) along with the NLC and FWO for taking part in the bidding for the project worth Rs5.1 billion.

However, Railcop and NC did not participate in the tendering process. Railcop informed RDA that it had no experience of working on more than Rs6 billion project while the NC did not respond.

The RDA had written a letter to FWO, NLC, Railcop and the NC to participate in direct contracting on Sept 22.

“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,” it stated.

The government organisation engaged for the procurement shall accomplish the task exclusively through its own resources without involving the private sector as a partner or in the form of a joint venture nor as a sub-contractor.

On Monday, technical evaluation of the bids started and the process will complete in a few days.

When contacted, RDA chief engineer Dr Habibul Haq Randhawa said work on the project had started and the contract would be awarded to one of the two government firms - NLC and FWO.

He said the total cost of the project was more than Rs6 billion; however, the construction cost was Rs5.1 billion while the remaining the amount will be spent on shifting of utility services and land acquisition.

He said earlier the scheme had been approved with the design having a two level underpass but after the detailed discussion with all stakeholders the design was slightly amended into a ‘Y’ shaped flyover along with an underpass, keeping in view the security needs of the route.

He said that the amended design would be more beneficial because of having no construction constraints as well as an improved level of services for better traffic management.

The RDA shall reconsider the vertical clearance of the proposed underpass for Iftikhar Janjua Road for the old airport-bound traffic from 3.6 metres to 5.3 metres, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2022