The National Roads Authority (NHA) granted all the four sections of the regional economic corridor project (CAREC) in Asia (CAREC) in Asia (CARC) (NXCC) (NXCC) after opening financial bids on Thursday. However, the bidding process sparked controversy, as competing companies plan to challenge them in court, claiming violations and lack of transparency.
dawn Sources were reported that some of the offers providers had submitted formal complaints with the grievance processing cell from NHA (GRC) before the bids were opened. However, they claim that their fears were ignored, and the process continued without addressing their objections. A major competitor, China, the third engineering company, claimed that NHA rushed to the bidding process, as it has set its appointment within two days of work to cancel a previous, without fully reviewing grievances.
The documents reveal that NXCC was excluded by NHA in 2023 for its failure to complete the Lodhran-Multan section. Nevertheless, the company was allowed to participate in both technical and financial bids for the Carec Tranche-II project. The company’s competitors argue that unqualified offer providers have been unacceptable, which violates the principles of purchases and endanger the safety of the process.
In response to the allegations, the president of Nha Sheheryar Sultan defended the bidding process, noting that NXCC was wiped by the courts after being excluded. He added that all fears were addressed, and that the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is participating in the project, agreed to all participating companies.
Carec Tranche-III project includes four sections, with a total of 20 companies offering bids. Six companies have been competed in the 58 km length of Rajanpur-DG Khan, 64 km long, five DG Khan-Tibbi Qaisrani, and two for Tibbi Qaisrani-Di Khan 96km.
After technical assessments, 16 companies qualified for the final bidding stage. The project, at a total cost of PC-I 85.44 billion rupees, aims to expand a highway consisting of lanes to a four-lax road to enhance regional communication.
Despite NHA’s assurances, the controversy surrounding the bidding process is expected to escalate, with legal challenges that are likely to delay the implementation of the project.
