Ranchi, July 6: The government is going ahead with its mega-sports complex project without inviting fresh tenders for it.

Sources said chief minister Arjun Munda held a “confidential” meeting with sports department officials yesterday where it was decided to expedite the project. It was also agreed that a search would be launched for land for the complex.

The move follows reports that the earlier tenders for the ambitious project had been discarded and that a fresh tender would be invited.

The government intends to build this complex for hosting the National Games in 2007. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani had laid its foundation stone on-line on November 15 last year during the statehood day celebrations.

Sports director Amitabh Chaudhary, in a guarded statement, said: “I am not aware if there was any decision to cancel the earlier tenders. But I have not received any such file so far.”

Sports secretary N.N. Pandey refused comment on the matter. A controversy had broken out over finalisation of the tenders as some companies who had filed their bids were rejected on the grounds that they had not quoted the complete requirements of the project. The rejected companies were reportedly lobbying hard to get the tenders cancelled so they could quote again. However, chief minister Arjun Munda is reported to have taken exception to this as cancellation of tenders would further delay the project.

The sports department had last year invited tenders for the architectural drawing, design, supervision and construction of a mega-sports complex. The proposed complex would have a main stadium (for athletics), a football ground, a main hockey ground (and two for practice), an archery ground, a skating rink, a gymnastic ground, four swimming pools, an indoor basket ball ground, a table tennis enclosure and a hostel.

A total of 12 companies submitted tenders, of which 11 were selected for technical scrutiny. Five companies were found technically competent for designing and construction of the project. They are Arch Consultants, High Point Randel (HPR), Shreyi International, Nagarjuna Consultants and Stup Consultants.

After the financial bids were opened, HPR, which had quoted Rs 134 crore, was found most suitable as it had offered many additional facilities.

like hospital, club house, power sub-station and a practice field.