Four firms based outside the state are in the race to bag the contract for construction of the proposed Bihar Museum along the southern flank of Bailey Road at an estimated Rs 498 crore.

The art, culture and youth affairs department, on the other hand, has appointed Canada-based Lord Cultural Resources for handling the interior designing.

The firms shortlisted for construction work have been asked to submit their financial bids to the building construction department by May 22 and the final selection would be over by June 15. “We have shortlisted four firms on the basis of technical bids. We have started sending the drawings of the proposed museum to the selected firms from today. The department has targeted to commence construction work from June only and complete the project by February 2015,” said a senior official of the building construction department.

Umesh Chandra Dwivedi, director (museums) said: “Lord Cultural Resources, the master planning consultants for this ambitious project, has been selected for interior designing. As soon as construction of a block is completed, interior designing would start.”

The site of the proposed Bihar Museum was occupied by seven old bungalows between LN Mishra Institute and Hartali Mor. “The building construction department has demolished six bungalows. The seventh bungalow could not be brought down as its owner’s consent was awaited. It is expected soon,” said a source.

“According to a clause in the contract, the selected firm would have to start construction even if 50 per cent of the total land is made available. Moreover, we have strict instructions to make progress in the project according to the stipulated schedule. Thus, the last bungalow would be demolished in a couple of days,” a department official said.