3 firms shortlisted for construction of new Assembly building

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Oct 23: The State government has zeroed in on three firms for construction of a new Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building. And the three companies that have been selected for the fincial bid are Shapoorji Pallonji Co & Ltd, Simplex Infrastructure Limited and Shree Gautam Infrastructure Company Ltd.  

Speaking to media persons after a meeting of the High Powered Committee here on Monday, Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal said a total number of seven companies participated in the tendering process.

Mondal informed the media that the three companies that have been selected for the fincial bid were based on the technical evaluation made by the Public Work Department (PWD).

He also said that work for the construction of the new Assembly building may start as soon as next month, if things go smoothly.

“The fincial bid documents will be opened on Wednesday. The lowest bidder will be awarded the contract for construction of the project. If there are no more hiccups, we are hopeful to start the project from next month,” the Assembly Speaker said.

Mondal said the government will discuss with the successful bidder on when the project can be started.

“We have set certain limitations. If the first successful bidder fails to comply with the conditions set by the government, then the second lowest bidder will be given the contract to execute the project,” Mondal added.

The Speaker said the estimated cost for constructing of the new Assembly building was Rs 141.14 crore and the targeted time to complete the project is three years.

It may be mentioned that the old Assembly building at Khyndai Lad here was reduced to ashes in a devastating fire on 9th January 2001.

The historical Burma teak structure made in Gothic style by the British before Independence had hosted a SAARC ministerial meeting in 1986.

After the old Assembly building was gutted in the fire, the sittings of the Meghalaya Assembly were first held at State’s Central Library auditorium in IGP and later shifted to Arts & Culture auditorium within the premises of Brookside, Rilbong, the house where Nobel Laureate Rabindrath Tagore began writing his “Shesher Kobita” in 1919.