MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Nov 4: The Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company Limited (JUIDCO), a Government of Jharkhand undertaking, has invited bids for construction of foot overbridges at four crowded chowks in the state capital for the third time this year.
Four separate tenders were published by the company on Friday inviting online tenders for constructing foot overbridges near Nucleus Mall, Albert Ekka Chowk, Kishoreganj Chowk and renovation of the existing foot overbridge near GEL Church Complex.
The e-procurement notice has estimated the cost of constructing the foot overbridge near Nucleus Mall on Circular Road in Ranchi city at an estimated cost of about Rs 443 lakh and the last date for submission of the online bid is 28 November 2022.
It may be noted that similar tenders were issued twice earlier with last dates as 13 July 2022 and 30 March 2022 at an estimated value of the project at Rs 388 crore. However, despite extensions of the last dates, not a single contractor showed any interest.
The national competitive bidding for construction of foot overbridge and installation of escalators near Kishoreganj Chowk has also failed earlier to attract bidders. The Rs 460 lakh project was earlier issued with last dates in February and March early this year.
JUIDCO also came out with a notice inviting tenders for construction of foot overbridge (FOB) with provision of escalators at Albert Ekka Chowk at a cost of Rs 17.69 crore. It has also sought bidders to renovate and install escalators at the existing foot overbridge near GEL Church Complex at an estimated cost of Rs 289 lakh.
Notably, the government has planned other FOBs in the city at places like Ratu Road Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Harmu Chowk and Roshpa Tower to ease traffic pressure in the state capital. Its requirement was felt due to heavy traffic pressure in the area.
Lagatar24.com could not get a comment from JUIDCO CMD Vinay Kumar Choubey, who also happens to be the Secretary of the Chief Minister and was in Palamu early today for the Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s ongoing Apke Dwar campaign.
Sources inform that JUIDCO failed to attract bidders for these FOBs as the rates were not as per the market standard. Another reason cited was that JUIDCO is not prompt in payment and is not of great help in case land disputes arise during work.
