The consortium filed bids worth a total of 504.1 million litas for the construction of second tracks on four sections of the rail line connecting Kaunas and Klaipeda.
Unofficial sources told BNS that the second bidder – a consortium of Panevėžio Keliai (Panevėžys Roads) and Kaunas telecommunications systems company Belam (or Belam Telekomunikacijos in several tenders) submitted bids worth a total of 578 million litas.
The smallest bid submitted in the tenders that have been issued repeatedly is nearly 100 million litas lower compared with the smallest bid filed in the initial tenders, which were cancelled last year when all bids were rejected as too high. The total value of smallest bids then made up 593 million litas.
The consortium of Kauno Tiltai and Mitnija has offered to build the second track on the section between Kulupėnai and Kretinga for 120.9 million litas (VAT included), between Pavenčiai and Raudėnai – for 104.9 million litas, between Telšiai and Duseikiai – for 103.8 million litas, and between Plungė and Sateikiai – for 174.5 million litas.
The consortium of Panevėžio Keliai and Belam (or with Belam Telekomunikacijos in some of the tenders) has bid 132.6 million litas, 116.2 million litas, 114.9 million litas and 214.1 million litas, respectively.
Lietuvos Geležinkeliai issued calls for tenders repeatedly earlier this year and expected to see stronger competition among the bidders and to get smaller bids. Calls were sent to more than 30 potential bidders. However, they attracted fewer bidders this time.
With the second tracks built, passenger trains would be able to travel at the speed of up to 160 kilometers per hour, and freight trains – of up to 120 kph. The projects will be financed with the structural support funds of the European Union (EU) and own resources of the Lithuanian national railway company.
