Construction companies employing only Bhutanese to get works without tenders

SDP: Contractors willing to employ Bhutanese workers only will get construction works without having to go through the work tendering process.

The Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay announced this during the 14th meet the press session yesterday.

“Let us know if there are any private sector contractors who can build bridges and buildings from start to end using only local workers and engineers,” he said. “The government will give contract works without floating tenders.”

Assuring that the government is serious about the decision, Lyonchhoen said that construction of three bridges in Thimphu, a 30- m bridge at Decehncholing, 50- m and 20- m bridge over Wangchhu river in Hejo, was awarded to Construction Development Board Limited (CDCL). The project is worth Nu 123.6M.

The projects will be carried out under Small Development Project (SDP) initiative, which the Government of India (GoI) in November approved among other 257 new projects.  So far, GoI has approved projects worth Nu 4.96B.

Contracts for the expansion of 24 central schools in the coming year will also be awarded without floating tenders.

In total 49 central schools need expansion.

By Nirmala Pokhrel