New Delhi: The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) on Monday, October 3, withdrew its tender inviting bids for the construction of the prime minister’s residence as part of the Union government’s ongoing Central Vista redevelopment plan, two days after it first floated the tender.
The withdrawal was announced citing “administrative reasons” without any further clarification.
On Sunday, the CPWD had invited bids for the project, estimated to cost Rs 360 crore and to be located next to the President’s residence, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, and the South Block. After construction companies were finalised, financial bids were to be opened by October 14 and construction was to be completed within 21 months of the tender being awarded.
This is the second time the tender for the prime minister’s residential complex was floated and then withdrawn, the first being on July 18 this year only to be withdrawn four days later, on July 22.. That time, too, the reasons cited were “administrative”, according to news agency PTI.
Project specifications
The since-cancelled tender noted that the site for the two-block residence complex on Dara Shikoh road is in a “secure zone” and that the buildings would be constructed with “reinforced cement concrete”.
According to a report in the Hindu, the tender document also specified that the protect would span an estimated 21,000 square metres and would house, along with the prime minister’s residence, his home office, the Special Protection Group office, a guest house, a Seva Sadan, and basement parking.
Additionally, the contract would include a rain water harvesting system, a sewage treatment plant, 25 watchtowers and four entry and exit gates with security systems. Maintenance services for a period of five years were also included in the project’s Rs 360 crore cost.
The planned revamp of the prime minister’s residence is part of one of the four main pillars of the proposed Central Vista redevelopment project. This pillar also includes the proposed redevelopment of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which will be known as the ‘Executive Enclave’.
The tenders for this Executive Enclave, too, had to be floated twice, the second time in May this year after which financial bids were invited and DEC Infrastructure and Projects (India) Private Limited had emerged as the lowest bidder with an offer of Rs 1,316 crore. However, the tender has not yet been awarded.
Further, on Monday, the CWPD also floated a tender for the construction of a subterranean tunnel in the vice president enclave at an estimated cost of around Rs 21 crore.
The total length of the tunnel, which spreads across 1,147 square metres, would be 185 metres and its width is 6.20 metres, the tender document stated, according to PTI. The last date to submit the bid documents is October 15.
According to tender documents, the project will be completed in four months from the date of start of work.
Sources said that the tunnel will connect the vice president’s enclave to the new Parliament building in the future through another tunnel that will connect the prime minister’s residence to the proposed Executive Enclave.
Sources also said that it will help ease frequent traffic restrictions during the VIP movement.
Last month, as part of the renovations, the iconic Rajpath – the stretch of road which runs from Rashtrapati Bhawan down to India Gate – was rechristened ‘Kartavya Path’. It was inaugurated on September 8 to mark the completion of the first phase of the renovations.
(With PTI inputs)
