In a major achievement, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has won the contract for the construction of 38.3-kilometre-long Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) from Rawat to Thalian. The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) awarded the Rs. 22.8 billion contract to FWO after a bidding contest.
According to details, FWO had offered Rs300 million less bid than the estimated cost. RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said that the FWO emerged as the lowest bidders after the committee opened technical and financial bids in the presence of all concerned.
As per media reports, the Punjab government will also release Rs4bn for the R3 project. Meanwhile, the RDA will give Rs3.5bn to FWO for the mobilisation of machinery.
Read more: KTP: Role of Frontier Works Organization (FWO)
FWO will furnish security at the rate of five per cent of the contract price which is Rs. 1.14 billion in the shape of cash, pay order or bank guarantee (on stamp paper) from any scheduled bank of Pakistan within 15 days from the issuance of the contract letter.
This is indeed a major development as the R3 project has been in pending for the last 17 years. The previous government launched the project in its last year. It launched the project with a loan from the Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank of China.
Furthermore, FWO has a track record of completing work on Pakistan’s mega-projects with efficiency. Therefore, the R3 project will now be completed in two years. RDA will oversee the work which will likely start next month.
Rawalpindi Ring Road will have six lanes and four interchanges on Banth-Chak Beli Khan Road, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian.
Read more: FWO to receive Rs 182 billion for Balochistan’s development
FWO: Pakistan’s national strategic organization
Interestingly, a Chinese delegation led by Chang Chun, CEO China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC) called on Chairman RDA.
The delegation expressed interest to mull over and cooperate in mega projects of RDA like Ring Road Rawalpindi and Nullah Lai Expressway etc.
Important to note, China and Pakistan harbor a strong friendship with the former assisting the latter on various construction projects. Infact, FWO was created in 1966 after an agreement was signed between Pakistan and China to construct the Karakoram Highway and to develop what was essentially a mule track into the world’s highest paved road.
Since then, FWO has played a commendable role in Pakistan. It became one of Pakistan’s largest engineering and construction organizations. Due to its specialization in all aspects of engineering, bridge construction, tunneling, and its ability to deliver in turbulent and unsafe areas, FWO has emerged as a national strategic organization.
Read more: TKMG Road: FWO working with full zeal on Pakistan’s mega project!
Moreover, FWO at times collaborates with Chinese companies over development projects in Pakistan.
Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority has awarded the contract of the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam worth 442 billion rupees to a joint venture between Power China and Pakistan's Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). #Infrastructure #Pakistan #EmergingPakistan pic.twitter.com/vh06nlSpcD
— Emerging Pakistan (@dev9_) May 13, 2020