The procurement process for Sri Lanka’s Multi-Lane Free Flow Electronic Toll Collection (MLFFETC) system has faced allegations of corruption.
The Road Development Authority (RDA) under the Ministry of Transport and Highways called for bids on April 10, inviting firms to install an electronic toll system on a Build, Own, and Operate (BOO) basis.
The chosen bidder would first implement the system on the Port Access Elevated Highway and then expand it to other expressways. Conceptual designs and specifications were provided in the bid documents.
The electronic toll collection (ETC) system is intended to streamline toll payments by eliminating the need for vehicles to stop, thereby reducing delays. It works by electronically debiting registered users’ accounts and opening gates automatically as cars pass through.
The Ministry of Highways accelerated the project after discovering that up to 20 per cent of toll fees were being stolen by cashiers on the expressways, according to a top RDA official.
The tender process included a public announcement in local newspapers and a pre-bid meeting, which more than 15 companies participated.
However, many questions were raised due to a lack of information in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
Additionally, the RFP required the installation of CCTV security cameras along the expressways, with three cameras per pole at one-kilometre intervals, capable of storing 24 hours of footage for 45-50 days.
Industry experts noted that the CCTV requirements appeared to overshadow the actual tolling system, which is the project’s core focus.
Several bidders have expressed dissatisfaction with the tender specifications, claiming that key requirements were hidden or inadequately detailed in the RFP, and as a result, many foreign and local companies that had initially shown interest did not submit proposals.
Only three companies submitted bids, two with foreign collaborations and one with a locally developed solution.
However, two of these bids were rejected, leaving only one bid under evaluation. This bid reportedly comes from a well-known company with vested interests in securing the contract, leading to further concerns about the fairness of the tender process.
Source : Sunday times
