RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has decided to start afresh the tendering process for the Kutchery Chowk project after the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was disqualified from the bidding process on technical grounds.
The project is expected to cost the government at least Rs6.4 billion. The construction cost is Rs5.1 billion while the remaining amount will be spent on shifting utility services and land acquisition.
The RDA had invited Railcop Private Limited and National Construction Limited (NC) along with the National Logistics Company (NLC), and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for taking part in the bidding for the project.
Railcop and NC did not participate in the tendering process. Railcop informed the RDA that it had no experience working on more than Rs6 billion project while the NC did not respond. Similarly, the NLC did not come to a technical meeting organised by the RDA whereas the FWO, the final bidder, was dropped because of a technicality.
FWO disqualified from bidding process on technical grounds
In a letter to the FWO, the RDA said: “This is to inform FWO that the firm has been found technically disqualified after evaluation of technical proposal on the basis of technical eligibility criteria already issued to it.”
A senior official said since there was no government-run firm in the process for a direct contract, therefore the authority would have to start a new bidding process on Oct 18. All firms will need to register with the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) to qualify for the project, he added.
He said the RDA had sent letters to the FWO, NLC, Railcop and NC to submit their bids again but they would need to register with the revenue authority first. “Rest of the terms and conditions are the same,” he added.
In case of their failure to qualify for the contract, the RDA will need to go for open bidding.
Kutchery project
Under the project, the first level underpass will be constructed for Saddar to the old airport and from there to Saddar. Previously, there was a level-2 underpass for Saddar to Rawat, and Saddar to the airport with total six lanes.
Earlier, the project was approved with a design having a two-level underpass but after discussion with all stakeholders the design was slightly amended to a Y-shaped flyover along with an underpass, keeping in view the security needs of the route.
The project was approved at a total cost of Rs6.422 billion with a gestation period of 24 months. The cost of the project had escalated from Rs4.879 billion to Rs6.422 billion due to the addition of the flyover and 25pc increase in the prices of construction material.
Kutchery Chowk situated at the heart of the city along G.T. Road was the signalised intersection of five major urban arteries. This included the airport road from Ammar Chowk, Rashid Minhas Road from Marrir Chowk, Adiala and Tufail roads on the southern side.
The presence of district courts in its vicinity further worsens traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.
Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2022
