Medical devices park: AP Govt calls for fresh tender

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh Government has called for a fresh tender for the medical devices park coming up in Visakhapatnam district - christened AP MedTech Zone - in the vicinity of the steel plant, according to State Health Minister K. Srinivas.

He was here on Sunday to participate in a vaccination programme. He said there were no irregularities in the earlier tendering process for AMTZ but the company, which had been given the contract, had failed to comply with certain provisions. Earlier, the contract was given to Lanco Infra.

The company had not given the escrow account required in accordance with tender conditions. Such a condition incorporated in the tender would ensure that the money paid to the construction company would be utilized only for the purpose of construction, he said.

He said "the current tender is for phase I only and is estimated to be of Rs. 350 crore – Rs. 400 crore. The tenders for phase-II, phase-III, phase-IV, and phase-V, each phase costing about Rs. 150 crore – Rs. 200 crore, shall be advertised in parts as construction work progresses.''

The tender has been divided into parts for speedy implementation of the project since the Government of India's support has already been promised.

He said there were no irregularities in AMTZ contrary to what is being reported in certain sections of the media and "the project will be taken up and executed expeditiously''.