The Cabinet has awarded a Rs. 2.89 billion contract to Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd for Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project, covering a 0.86-kilometre stretch in southern Colombo.
The figure excludes value added tax. Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa announced the award at Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing.
What is being built
The section runs from Kirulapone Junction to Dutugemunu Street on the Colombo–Horana Road. It is to be widened to six lanes, EconomyNext reported.
The works also include:
- an underpass
- signalised intersections
- dedicated pedestrian facilities
- drainage system improvements
“The stretch of road is planned to be upgraded to six lanes with infrastructure facilities such as an underpass, signalized intersections, pedestrian facilities, and drainage system improvements,” Jayatissa said.
How the contract was awarded
Seven bids were received under a national competitive bidding process, and Maga Engineering was the lowest responsive bidder. The award followed the recommendations of a High-Level Procurement Committee, the Daily Mirror reported.
The proposal came from the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
Cost per kilometre
At Rs. 2.89 billion for 0.86 kilometres, the contract works out to roughly Rs. 3.4 billion per kilometre before VAT. The figure reflects the scope rather than the length: the section is an urban six-lane upgrade with a grade-separated underpass and utility-affected drainage works, not a resurfacing job.
Maga Engineering is one of Sri Lanka’s largest domestic contractors and was also awarded the Bandaranaike International Airport departure terminal works approved by Cabinet in July.
Not reported
Neither outlet gives a construction timeline, a completion date, the values of the six unsuccessful bids, or whether land acquisition is required. Neither says how Phases I and II of the project stand.