Two new firms vie for Padma bridge work in fresh PQ bid
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Munima Sultana
Only two new international firms have joined the fray to get the country's billion dollars' worth work for Padma bridge in the fresh pre-qualification bid that was called after pressure from a major financier of the project.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), the executing agency of the $2.9 billion Padma multi-purpose bridge project, called the new short-listing bid on October 11 after the World Bank (WB) with its $ 1.5 billion assurance for the project refused to accept the selection of the first bid.
Officials said in the fresh pre-qualification (PQ) bidding which closed on Wednesday, 10 international firms - four each from China and Korea, one each from France and India -- showed interest in the steel-truss-composite bridge construction work.
They, however, said all the short-listed five companies and three other rejected companies from the first bid also participated in the fresh one.
The new companies that joined the bid are GS Engineering and Construction Corporation of Korea and Larsen and Toubro Limited of India.
The WB compelled the government to call a fresh PQ bid on the ground that none of the BBA-selected five firms could comply with the changed design of the two-tier bridge which demands experience in raking piling instead of bore piling.
Officials said in the first PQ bid, which was called on April 10, all the 11 companies participated with their experience in only bore piling, although it sought both bore and raking pilings which means experience in concrete and steel pilings.
But with the closure of the second bid, it was found that the WB's anticipation to spark interest of some reputable firms from European countries did not work.
Only two new international firms have joined the fray to get the country's billion dollars' worth work for Padma bridge in the fresh pre-qualification bid that was called after pressure from a major financier of the project.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), the executing agency of the $2.9 billion Padma multi-purpose bridge project, called the new short-listing bid on October 11 after the World Bank (WB) with its $ 1.5 billion assurance for the project refused to accept the selection of the first bid.
Officials said in the fresh pre-qualification (PQ) bidding which closed on Wednesday, 10 international firms - four each from China and Korea, one each from France and India -- showed interest in the steel-truss-composite bridge construction work.
They, however, said all the short-listed five companies and three other rejected companies from the first bid also participated in the fresh one.
The new companies that joined the bid are GS Engineering and Construction Corporation of Korea and Larsen and Toubro Limited of India.
The WB compelled the government to call a fresh PQ bid on the ground that none of the BBA-selected five firms could comply with the changed design of the two-tier bridge which demands experience in raking piling instead of bore piling.
Officials said in the first PQ bid, which was called on April 10, all the 11 companies participated with their experience in only bore piling, although it sought both bore and raking pilings which means experience in concrete and steel pilings.
But with the closure of the second bid, it was found that the WB's anticipation to spark interest of some reputable firms from European countries did not work.