According to a source at CAAN, board members agreed in principal to extend the previously set 45-day deadline by another 14 days. Previously, the bid was to close on March 25. [break]“The decision is yet to be minuted but all the board members agreed to the proposal for extension,” added the source. This means the deadline will now end on April 8.
Going by the existing Nepali law and international practice deadline for mega project like this can range from 45 to 90 days.
The source further said since only 10 companies had taken the bid document so far, the board was positive about the extension. The board is chaired by minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The source further said there were also pressure from Chinese contractors for the extension.
Two different complaints were filed at CIAA stating that the 45-day deadline was not enough for multi-million dollar project and the short duration was indented to award the tender to a particular company. The complaints also alleged officials of corruption.
CAAN invited Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for execution of the project on February 9. The tender notice stated that the bidder must be a Chinese company or joint venture of the Chinese companies with more than 50 percent share of Chinese Company. The government is preparing to use the soft loan of around $145 million for the execution of project estimated at $ 166 million.
According to the officials, the airport could come into operation by the end of 2015 if the project goes ahead without hurdles.
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