| Indian construction giants bag works worth billions |
| Written by Dekey Choden Gyeltshen | |
|
April 5, 2009: Three Indian construction giants have been awarded works worth Nu 23.33 billion for the 1,200 megawatt Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project Authority (PHPA). Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) will undertake works worth Nu 12.45 billion under package I of the project. It includes construction of the diversion tunnel, dam, intake and desilting arrangement including hydro-mechanical works. The works will be completed in 66 months.The package II, worth Nu 4.00 billion, has been bagged by Gammon India Ltd to construct the Head Race Tunnel (HRT) which is 7.482 km. The tunnel channels the water from the dam to the power house.The economic affairs minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, said the length of the HRT is shorter than the 23 kilometer Tala project tunnel, making the construction work easier than that in Tala.The third company, the Hindustan Construction Company, secured works worth Nu 6.88 billion. The package III works include construction of the surge shaft, butterfly valve chamber, pressure shafts, power house and tail race tunnel including hydro-mechanical works and some parts of the head race tunnel. The works are to be completed in 66 months.Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk described the three Indian companies as the best contractors for the job. He said the construction of the project will be timely and cost effective because of the easier working conditions compared to the Tala project.Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said five Bhutanese contractors are already involved in constructing roads, bridges, office and residential buildings for the project.The PHPA is the first of the 10 major hydroelectric power projects jointly identified by Bhutan and India to be constructed in Bhutan by 2020. The 10 plants will have a joint installed capacity of 11,576 MW. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
