KATHMANDU: The Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly has sought information from the concerned officials regarding the complaint on the contract of ‘Phase-II’ under the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes Expressway (Fast Track).
The committee has called the Secretary of Defense, representatives of the Public Procurement Monitoring Office and representatives of the Nepal Army for a meeting. A complaint was lodged alleging irregularities in the selection of competent bidders for the construction of the tunnel under the project. Chairman of the committee MP Ram Narayan Bidari said that a complaint was lodged alleging irregularities in the tender process related to pre-qualification.
He informed that the officials of the agencies involved in the project have been called for the meeting to get information about the complaint from the concerned officials. “There were 20-21 international companies bidding for the pre-qualification,” he said. “However, two companies were selected. The committee tried to get information regarding the disqualification of other bidders.”
The committee listened to the concerned officials but did not give any instructions today. “If it is found to be against the law, the committee can give necessary opinions, advice and instructions. We are still in discussion,” he said.
By pre-qualified method: Nepal Army
Meanwhile, the Nepal Army has clarified that the process of determining the pre-qualification of the bidder for the construction of the tunnel is legal. Colonel Sunil Singh Rathore of the Nepal Army, who participated in the meeting of the committee, said that the pre-qualification was carried out in the best interest of the project, and with due process.
For the construction of the fast track priority tunnel, information was published in English and Nepali language in the national daily. He informed the committee that the pre-qualification documents have been posted on the website so that everyone can have easy access to them.
In the meeting, Defense Secretary Reshmiraj Pandey said that the Nepal Army was working day and night to complete the project of national pride and added that the army should be encouraged rather than discouraged to complete the work on time.
“There is no excuse for the Nepal Army to delaying the project,” he said. “We are committed to carrying out the procurement process in a legal and transparent manner. The army is also committed to this.” Stating that all the works in the process of construction of the expressway were legal, he clarified that action would be taken if anything went wrong.
The construction of the road with a total length of 72.5 km is targeted to be completed in FY 2080/81 BS. The policy and program of the current government also states that the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhesh Expressway will be completed in three years. The cabinet meeting on May 4, 2017 (2074 Baisakh 21) had decided to construct the project under the management of the Nepal Army. Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport handed over the project to the Nepal Army on August 11, 2017.
Based on the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the Nepal Army is constructing at a fast pace as per the overall detailed action plan and project implementation schedule.
According Nepal Army, construction work is in full swing by dividing it into 11 different clusters. In each cluster, seven to eight kilometers have been allotted. The road section will have three tunnels and 87 bridges of 80 meters height. The roads will be 27 meters wide in Terai and 25 meters in the hilly section.
