Egodini upgrade contract signed

MORE than three years after the Bulawayo City Council first mooted plans to rehabilitate Basch Street Terminus, the local authority and the South Africa-based contracted company - Terracotta - have finally put pen to paper.

The latest development means the project will soon commence, bringing to an end speculation that the project had hit a brick wall as the two parties were reportedly failing to reach common ground.

The rehabilitation, which was initially meant to start in January 2014, has experienced a number of false starts, with both the local authority and the contracted company reportedly not committing themselves to the commencement of the project.

South African civil engineering firm Terracotta Private Limited won the tender to upgrade the terminus popularly known as Egodini ahead of two other local companies. The project is expected to gobble close to $60 million.

According to the latest council report the signature copy of the contract had been forwarded to the company so that they sign their part and forward back to the local authority for final signature, of which communication had been received to the effect that they have sent back the signed copies to council.

"The Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Simela Dube, recalled that council had resolved that Terracotta (Private) Limited be offered the tender for re-development of Basch Street Terminus (Egodini) into a regional transport hub and shopping complex and further negotiations be carried out pertaining to land tenure as appropriate.

"As previously reported all outstanding issues had been thrashed out and a final draft lease agreement had been crafted with the concurrent of both parties. The Acting Town Clerk, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, advised that the Terracotta copy of the Lease Agreement had been sent by courier," reads part of the report.

Bulawayo mayor Councillor Martin Moyo confirmed that everything was now on course now that the lease agreement had been finally signed.

"I know that this project has faced a number of hiccups but my call to the general public is that they be patient. We are very committed to this project and this is a step in the right direction, we hope now all the other logistics will be accelerated so that work begins on site," said Clr Moyo.

A Terracotta official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that they had sent back the signed lease agreement and were now waiting to move on site to start the project.

"It is unfortunate that the negotiations dragged for this long but now that everything has been signed we expected to start the logistics for us to move on site and start the renovations," said the official.

The initial tender for the re-development of the terminus was advertised and closed on 25 June 2012, the compulsory tender briefing was held on 5 July with 14 companies attending. The pre-adjudication inter-departmental meeting was held on 11 September to consider the submissions, where Terracotta was awarded the tender. The company was also awarded with a 99-year lease to the terminus.

Past projects that have been done by the company include Edendale Shopping Mall in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, Chris Hani Crossing Taxi facility in Gauteng and the Tsakane Mall Taxi rank again Gauteng. According to the company's plans renovations are expected to begin in six months after the signing of the contract.

"Completion of tenant letting (will be done) in four months, completion of working drawing and development rights (will be) in place in six months and earthworks begin in six months. Beneficial occupation of main tenants (is expected) in 18 months, beneficial occupation of remaining tenants in 19 months while official opening and commencement of trading after 20 months," reads part of a brief that the company sent to the local authority.