TWO SPANISH AND FOUR CHINESE COMPANIES MAKE BIDS FOR NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR
ARKA
Oct 19, 2011
YEREVAN, October 10. / ARKA /. Two Spanish and four Chinese companies
have submitted applications for participation in a tender announced
by Armenia's government for construction of the first two segments of
North-South transport corridor. The tender packages were opened today.
The Armenian government approved January 14, 2010 the investment
program to build the North-South transport corridor, as well as a
$500 million framework loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank.
The Spanish companies- Constructura Sanjose and Corsan Corviam
Construccion- asked for $255.6 million (with a 10.18% discount)
and $ 263.8 million respectively for building the sections. Chinese
companies Covec CREG, China Civil Engineering Corporation, Chine Road
and Bridge Corp proposed to build the sections for $217.4 million,
$252 million, $308.8 million and $236 million respectively.
Armenian transport and communications minister Manuk Vardanyan told
journalists the tender commission has 20 days to examine all bids
and announce the winner. Among mandatory requirements participating
companies must have at least a five-year experience, an annual
turnover of $100 million, appropriate skills and experience required
for building concrete roads.
"We plan that the work will begin this year. We also need to transfer
part of road infrastructures as well as to provide compensation
to residents of homes whose lands and homes will be alienated,"
said Vardanyan.
The minister said large-scale construction work will commence in next
spring on Talin-Ashtarak section, but traffic on this stretch of road
will not be closed. It is planned that the construction work will be
completed in 2.5 years.
The minister said also the government plans to begin negotiations
with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Japanese International
Cooperation Agency on construction of the third and fourth segments
of the highway which include segments from Talin to Gyumri and from
Gyumri to Bavra on the Georgian border.
The first tranche of the ADB loan in the amount of $70 million is
planned to be spent on the reconstruction of the sections of roads
between Yerevan and Ararat and Yerevan and Ashtarak. The second
tranche worth $210 million will be used to reconstruct a stretch
between Ashtarak and Talin.
The goal of the project is to upgrade Armenia's main corridor road
as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade,
growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia
sub-regions. Funds will be released by the Asian Development Bank
periodically through a multitranche financing facility. The transport
corridor will stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri,
on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with
Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to
mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
ARKA
Oct 19, 2011
YEREVAN, October 10. / ARKA /. Two Spanish and four Chinese companies
have submitted applications for participation in a tender announced
by Armenia's government for construction of the first two segments of
North-South transport corridor. The tender packages were opened today.
The Armenian government approved January 14, 2010 the investment
program to build the North-South transport corridor, as well as a
$500 million framework loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank.
The Spanish companies- Constructura Sanjose and Corsan Corviam
Construccion- asked for $255.6 million (with a 10.18% discount)
and $ 263.8 million respectively for building the sections. Chinese
companies Covec CREG, China Civil Engineering Corporation, Chine Road
and Bridge Corp proposed to build the sections for $217.4 million,
$252 million, $308.8 million and $236 million respectively.
Armenian transport and communications minister Manuk Vardanyan told
journalists the tender commission has 20 days to examine all bids
and announce the winner. Among mandatory requirements participating
companies must have at least a five-year experience, an annual
turnover of $100 million, appropriate skills and experience required
for building concrete roads.
"We plan that the work will begin this year. We also need to transfer
part of road infrastructures as well as to provide compensation
to residents of homes whose lands and homes will be alienated,"
said Vardanyan.
The minister said large-scale construction work will commence in next
spring on Talin-Ashtarak section, but traffic on this stretch of road
will not be closed. It is planned that the construction work will be
completed in 2.5 years.
The minister said also the government plans to begin negotiations
with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Japanese International
Cooperation Agency on construction of the third and fourth segments
of the highway which include segments from Talin to Gyumri and from
Gyumri to Bavra on the Georgian border.
The first tranche of the ADB loan in the amount of $70 million is
planned to be spent on the reconstruction of the sections of roads
between Yerevan and Ararat and Yerevan and Ashtarak. The second
tranche worth $210 million will be used to reconstruct a stretch
between Ashtarak and Talin.
The goal of the project is to upgrade Armenia's main corridor road
as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade,
growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia
sub-regions. Funds will be released by the Asian Development Bank
periodically through a multitranche financing facility. The transport
corridor will stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri,
on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with
Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to
mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.