Firm building int’l cricket stadium puts BCA on notice

Vadodara: The international cricket stadium project that Barodians have been waiting for years may hit a roadblock again. One of the contractors has demanded a raise of 20 per cent in the cost citing the steep rise in the price of raw material, along with other reasons. The contractor has, in fact, given five days to the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) to decide on his demand.
“One of the firms involved in the stadium construction has demanded a rise in price over what they had quoted earlier. BCA has been given five days to decide on the demand. The BCA apex council that is meeting on Tuesday will take a decision on it,” said Kalyan Haribhakti, BCA apex council member.
The firms constructing the stadium had demanded a rise in May following which the BCA management took legal opinion. A BCA official said, “The legal opinion we received clearly said that BCA doesn’t need to agree to the contractors’ demands and there was no need to increase the project cost. Now, one construction firm has given BCA five days to consider its demand but it hasn’t stated its further course of action if the association doesn’t agree to the price hike.”
The contractors had claimed that they had a tough time hiring the labourers who had gone back to their villages during the pandemic over the last two years. The labourers demanded more money. Also, the increasing price of fuel has also affected their budget. Though the contractors claimed that they had factored price rise in their initial cost estimate, the unexpected rise in prices of raw material had forced them to demand a hike.
The construction cost of the stadium was initially pegged at Rs 80 crore but it may cost Rs 100 crore if the demand is met. The association is in a dilemma over the price rise and hence no decision has been taken yet. BCA plans to complete the construction of the pavilions and key areas of the stadium by the end of this year so that it can bid for the IPL matches as early as possible.
But the delays in getting land for approach road widening and the price hike demand of the construction firm may push the deadline further.