Local contractors in the country are asking the government to provide a level playing field while competing with the government in the construction sector.
Most contractors feel the Construction Development Corporation Ltd. (CDCL) was taking away a major chunk of their share in the construction sector.
During their annual general meeting yesterday, contractors raised that CDCL should not be allowed to undertake those projects that are within the capacity of the contractors.
Many contractors argued CDCL enjoyed more advantage in terms of machinery and manpower and yet participated even in small projects, which can be carried out by contractors.
CDCL was initially established to carry out bigger projects beyond the capacity of the private contractors and that they won’t compete with the contractors.
“…Later they were involved in many small projects and directly competing with us,” said a contractor, Desang Dorji.
Another contractor, Neten Wangdi said it would be better if CDCL took up only bigger projects and leave the small ones to the contractors.
Others said, many government agencies award work to CDCL directly, without any competitive bidding process. The contractors requested the government not to award works directly to CDCL before sitting for the competitive bidding process.
Works and human settlement secretary, Phuntsho Wangdi, who was responding to the concerns of the contractors, said the Construction Development Corporation offered quality, timely completion, and employed 100 percent Bhutanese national, so some agencies preferred awarding the work directly to them.
“CDCL also has limited number of equipment; manpower and supervisors and they cannot take up all the works in the country. They take about four or five which is applicable with any other class A contractors, so the contractors are not being crowded out.”
In their previous interview, officials from CDCL said, their corporation was now getting more prepared to take up bigger projects in the country like the construction of tunnels, dams, and powerhouses.
