THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Widening of Chengannur-Ettumanoor-Muvattupuzha stretch of Main Central Road under the second phase of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) is likely to get delayed as the state government is still pressing World Bank to accept the lowest bidder, which is falling short in meeting the qualifying criteria. The government file containing a set of correspondences between the World Bank country office and the KSTP office, accessed by TOI under the Right To Information Act, revealed that the tug of war between the bank and the project office over the tender process is still continuing.World Bank, which funds the second phase of the KSTP, had refused to give NOC to Chennai-based NAPC Ltd, the lowest bidder for the 47-km Chengannur-Ettumannur road and 40.96-km Ettumannur-Muvattupuzha road widening project. According to it, the bidder has fallen short in meeting the qualifying criteria of production rate of Gabion wall. Gabion wall is the retaining wall made of stacked stone-filled steel wire cages to abate erosion. Compared to concrete retaining walls, Gabions are environment-friendly and long-lasting.

As per World Bank guidelines, the bidders must have constructed Gabion retaining wall of 7,200 cubic metres. NAPC has a shortfall of 15% in the individual package evaluation and 35% in combined evaluation. Since World Bank refused to give NOC the steering committee led by chief secretary has decided to suggest three options. In a letter dated October 4 the bank expressed willingness to accept the third option which is to give the second lowest bidder Essar the first stretch and NAPC the second. However, the government is still pushing for the first option. In reply to the letter sent by the chief secretary it has been stated that the government preferred to consider NAPC for both stretches.

PWD minister V K Ebrahim Kunju said that if one stretch is awarded to the second lowest bidder, it will result in excess cost of Rs11.45 crore. Also, there is a chance that the lowest bidder may go for litigation, which might delay the project, he added.

For the Rs242.65-crore project of the first stretch from Chengannur-Ettumannur, NAPC has quoted Rs 233.94 crore and Essar Sacyr Rs 245.39 crore. For the Ettumannur-Muvattupuzha stretch of Rs166.75 crore, NAPC quoted Rs171.49 crore and Essar Sacyr Rs 204.70 crore.

Meanwhile, the state government argues that Gabion wall construction is an insignificant work and most bidders do sub-contracting of the work. It also asked World Bank to consider experience of Vince Group, parent company of NAPC, in Gabion wall construction for the qualifying criteria.