Bid for Ganga bridge in Bihar rejected to cancel Chinese tender
Patna, June 28 (HS)Participation of Chinese construction companies in the bidding for four-lane bridge over Ganga river in Patna has led to the cancellation of the process by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Fresh bid would be invited for this mega project next month, sources said.
Tender worth Rs 2411.50 crore would be opened on July 31. The construction of the bridge parallel to the present Gandhi Setu is part of PM’s special package for Bihar. The bridge connecting Patna to Hajipur in north Bihar would be 5.63 km long but its approach road on Patna side would be 14.5 km long from Agamkuan as elevated road. The bridge would end at Ramashish Chowk in Hajipur.
It is reported that two Chinese firms China Harbour Engineering Company Limited and Dileep Buildcon & Shanghai Road Bridge Company Limited had shown interest in this project tender for which was opened in January last.
The recent violent clash in Ladakh between the armies of India and China, however, left no scope for any Chinese firm taking up work in India. The MoRTH cancelled the entire process which had been started late last year. As per the new guidelines the project worth Rs 2411.50 crore has to be completed in 1278 days (3.5 years) or by October 2023. Sources said re-bidding for selection of companies would be opened on July 31.
Indian firms that took interest in the project included S P Singla Construction, Larsen & Toubro, Gammon Engineers & Contractors and others. All the Indian companies have been firmly told that they would not sublet any work to any Chinese firm.
