46 Crore project without accepting the tender and DPR
Simara: The Minister of Urban Development of the Government of Nepal, Metmani Chaudhary, has laid the foundation stone of a 46 crore project on Friday without completing the detailed project report (DPR) and the tender process.
Minister Choudhary laid the foundation stone of three schemes within Jitpursimara sub-metropolitan city at the same time, following the legal process. Minister Chaudhary came to Simara with a team from the Urban Development and Building Department to lay the foundation stone of the plan.
Minister Chaudhary has laid the foundation stone of the road section connecting Hulaki Highway through Ramauli, Basdilwa, Inarwasira Bazar, Samall Matiarwa, Chinimil on Pathalaiya-Birganj commercial highway with an estimated budget of 35 crores. The said road section is Jitpursimara’s ward no. 8, 19 and 20.
Similarly, Minister Chaudhary laid the foundation stone of a 6 crore park at Gadhimai Temple, a 5 crore road project from Telecome Chowk in Simara to Bikashshil Chowk, airport border via Rangshala Chowk and airport road from Pipal tree to Bikashshil Chowk.
Under the intensive urban development program, the plan is going to be built with a budget of 50 crores under the multi-year program of the ministry. This year, 17 crores have been allocated for the projects for which DPR has not been approved by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction.
Kathmandu’s Manisha Engineering Consultant prepared the DPR of the plan after the local elections. According to the legal provisions, the department has to study whether the rates and details mentioned in the DPR report given by the consultant are correct and accept the said DPR and the contractor selection process should be done by inviting tenders on the basis of the said DPR.
Minister Chaudhary gave priority to the foundation stone laying without accepting the DPR prepared by the consultant at the cost of 17.5 lakh and the contractor was not finalized. Minister Chaudhary has been criticized at the local level for hastily laying the foundation stone during the election. Locals say that the project will be stalled after the foundation stone has not been decided by the contractor.
