Islamabad: Tenders set to open for Kashmir Highway expansion-rehabilitation

[Naveed Yaseen]

by Muhammad Anis
As the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to open tenders to award work for the mega project of expansion and rehabilitation of Kashmir Highway today (Monday), some construction companies are trying to enter the competition from backdoor.

Sources said that the bidding committee has short-listed eight construction firms and they have already submitted their bids.

Sources said two new companies which are trying to delay the opening of tenders do not enjoy good reputation and they

were penalised for not completing projects of I J Principal Road and a portion of 7th Avenue on time.

It has also been learnt that some short-listed companies at the behest of these two firms were favouring delay in opening of tenders.

When contacted by ‘The News,’ CDA Director General Works Abdul Jabbar Malano, however, said that tenders would be opened today (Monday) and so far he had no information about any delay.

According to the new schedule of cost of National Highway Authority (NHA) to be followed by the Capital Development Authority, the cost of the project is likely to be increased more

than 70% of the PC-1 of Rs2.2 billion. The previous PC-1 was prepared according to the 2006 schedule.

“The PC-1 may also be doubled according to the new schedule which is being followed in view of escalation in prices of cement, steel and diesel,” a Capital Development Authority official said when contacted by ‘The News’.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=143334