Pratyaya Amrit displays the envelope containing the financial bids on Friday. Picture by Jai Prakash

The construction of the four-lane driveway along the banks of the Ganga would start in October, economically.

Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL) — an executing agency of the road construction department — on Friday awarded the driveway contract to Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Limited. Contrary to the common practice of opening financial bids behind closed doors, tenders for the Ganga Path (driveway) project were opened at the BSRDCL headquarters in the presence of the representatives of all the four shortlisted bidders.

The road construction department officials, especially secretary Pratyaya Amrit, were visibly delighted while awarding the contract to Navayuga Engineering Company Limited because the financial bid of the Hyderabad-based firm — the lowest bidder — was less than the minimum bidding price quoted by the BSRDCL for the civil work. (See below)

The firm had quoted a price of Rs 1,789 crore with a provision of 0.65 per cent discount, making its net bidding price Rs 1,777. 37 crore.

Representatives of Navayuga Engineering Company Limited attributed the low bid quoted by them to the usage of self-procured equipment. “We are working in Bihar since 2004. We have the experience and necessary equipment like two barrages required for civil construction over rivers because we are already working on a greenfield bridge over the Ganga, connecting Bakhtiyarpur and Samastipur. We have also done civil works at Barh Thermal Plant of NTPC. Thus, our cost in mobilisation of resources would be less than others,” said Suryanarayana Raju, assistant general manager, Navayuga Engineering Company Limited.

The other three bidders quoted much higher than the BSRDCL’s minimum biding price — Rs 1,950 crore. Hindustan Construction Company Limited quoted Rs 2,810.68 crore, AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd had quoted Rs 2,200 crore and Rs 2,331 crore was quoted by M/s Simplex Infrastructures Ltd.

“This is a landmark project not only for the city but for the entire state. The residents have been curiously waiting for this project and we assure you that this project would change the face of the city,” said Amrit, the road construction department secretary.

Navayug Engineering Company Limited would get 90 days as mobilisation period for starting construction work.

“The construction work would start from the Didarganj-end in the east. Lakhs of Sikh devotees are expected to participate in the celebrations of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib in Patna City in 2016. Thus, we want the stretch of the driveway in and around the Patna City to be completed first,” said Amrit.

Representatives of Navayuga said they would try to complete the work before the deadline to avail 5 per cent bonus on construction cost.

commuters’ delight

A view of the Ganga in the capital where the proposed driveway would come up. Picture by Jai Prakash

PROJECT

Construction of Ganga Path from Digha Ghat to Didarganj in Patna

• Road length: 21.5km
• Responsible for execution: Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL)
• Toll plazas: 7

MONEY MATTERS

• Total project cost: Rs 3160cr
• Civil work cost: Rs 1950cr
• HUDCo loan: Rs 2000cr
• State government funds: Rs 1160cr

BID BITS

• Minimum bidding price quoted by BSRDCL for civil work: Rs 1950cr
• Firms shortlisted for financial bidding: 4
• Firm awarded contract: Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd
• Bidding price of the selected firm: Rs 1777.37cr

TIMELINE

• Expected time for commencement of civil work: Mid-October, 2013
• Construction period: 4 years

ON SKY

A Cessna Grand Caravan 208B. Similar models would be operated under the chartered flight service by Skyfisher Airways Ltd

ON THE CARDS

Service of non-scheduled airline Skyfisher Airways Limited

• Aircraft: Cessna Grand Caravan 208B
• Number of aircraft: 2
• Services: Chartered, medical evacuation and normal ferry of passengers
• Expected time for commencement of services: Mid-September

UNDER GROUND

PROJECT

Construction of three subways

• Estimated cost: Around Rs 150cr for each subway
• Fit for: Light motor vehicles and two-wheelers

Locale

• Subway I: From Patna High Court Mor on southern flank of Bailey Road to Bihar Engineering Service Association building on Boring Road
• Subway II: From around 100m north of Hartali Mor on Boring Canal Road to New Secretariat on southern flank of Bailey road
• Subway III: From around 100m west of Digha-R-Block railway crossing on Bailey Road to the road going towards Punaichak

PROJECT status

Chief minister has approved concept of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam. A feasibility study would be done by an agency, hired through competitive bidding. It would also be asked to prepare detailed project report