Roads: The formation cutting of the 8.6km Phusa-Sari road at Getena in Chukha has been put on hold because of a cost estimate problem.

Mindu Construction quoted Nu 16.77M (million) for the work, which is 53 percent below the DoR estimate.

The contractor was asked to submit its rate analysis to the regional office, which was eventually sent to the committee.  The DoR office also had to provide such analysis to the departmental-level tender committee.

Roads officials said the committee has asked the office and the contractor to revisit the site and rework the rate analysis.

“We’ll then submit the report to the tender committee for endorsement,” said EN Sharma, executive engineer. “The Darla sub-division office is working on the site verification at the moment.”

The two-month bid validity time expired in March this year.  Extension time until April 5 has also expired.

The proprietor of Mindu Construction, Mindu Tshering, said that he was worried that contract award delay could compromise work quality in the future.

“Summer is approaching,” said Mindu Tshering.

Mindu Tshering said his company could complete the work within the cost as specified in the company’s quotation.  He added that Nu 1,475 per metre estimation was better than many other prices.

DoR officials, however, said the office would submit the new analysis reports and recommendations within a week.  The total budget for the Phusa-Sari formation cutting is Nu 48M.

By Rajesh Rai, Phuentsholing

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