Only two firms evince interest in City Square project

GIIC and a Bengaluru-based firm submit quotations

The Swaraj Maidan in Vijayawada.

Contrary to the expectations of the government, only two infrastructure companies have come forward to take up the much-hyped project of City Square aimed at transforming the Swaraj Maidan (PWD grounds) into a world-class public space.

The executive authority of the project, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, received proposals only from China's Guizhou International Investment Corporation (GIIC) and Bengaluru-based Prestige Group as on Friday, the last day to receive quotations in response to the 'Request for Quotation' call given a month ago, according to Additional Commissioner (Projects) K. Narasimha Murthy.

Earlier, in a pre-bid meeting, representatives of six companies took part evincing interest in the project and sought three weeks extra time to submit their quotations. In fact, the idea of making an open call for quotations from all interested parties is to bring in transparency, which was allegedly missing in the government's decision to directly hand over a public space to a foreign firm whose designs were officially released and announced that it would develop the public space.

However, only two of them came up with proposals to transform the 20-acre block of land, including the open ground of the Swaraj Maidan, the rythu bazaar, college, Irrigation Department land and others besides the adjacent six-acre plot currently having the State Guesthouse and the DGP's Camp Office at Suryaraopet, into commercial space with high rises. The cost of the 26 acres of land is about ₹1,200 crore as estimated by the authorities.

Opposition

The members of the civil society, including representatives of various organisations, political parties and others have strongly opposed the City Square project as they are against losing the only public ground of the city. Also, a PIL has been filed in the High Court which sought the response of the civic body in this regard.

Also, the VMC and the AP Urban Infrastructure Asset Management Ltd (APUIAML), the consultant of the project, could only go ahead with the paper work until further court orders.

"Now, we will have to thoroughly go through the quotations submitted. Later, we shall ask them to come up with detailed presentations. However, until further instructions from the court we shall only do the basic work," Mr. Narasimha Murthy said.

As per the requirements of the civic body, the two firms came up with plans to build underground shopping complex in the Swaraj Maidan leaving open space for public above it.