Toll Roads in Mauritius Pay To Use The

Road
In an attempt to ease traffic congestion in Mauritius, the Road Development Authority (RDA)the government agency responsible for the construction, maintenance and improvement of main
roads in Mauritius- is implementing a project named as the Road Decongestion Program (RDP).
This has been deemed necessary as the severe morning and afternoon traffic jams have been
estimated to cost the economy around Rs 2 billion annually.

The chief area of activities are concentrated within Port Louis with the roads from the South
leading to it being the Motorway (M1) and the Port-Louis St Jean Road (A1), and the roads
from the North being the Motorway (M2) and the Port Louis Central Flacq Road (A2).
This limitation in accessibility is the principal reason for the congestion problems and under the
RDP, new road networks will be established and the concept of toll roads will be introduced in
the island.

What is a toll road?

A toll road is one for which the driver is required to pay a fee or charge to be able to use it.
Public authorities usually go for it as it generates revenue which will help them repay the debt
issued to put in place the toll facility and pay for future maintenance works.

Till now the fee amount has not yet been decided by the government. However, the Minister
of Public Infrastructure and Transport, Anil Baichoo has announced that public transport
and utility vehicles will be exempted from the charge. The toll will be introduced in places
where alternate roads exist. Thus, drivers will be able to opt for the other way if they want
to avoid the toll payment. Those who pass through the toll roads will benefit from a grant
from the government.
The RDA has appointed the South African firm, SPP Project Solutions Private Ltd, as its
Transaction Advisor. The latter has been given the responsibility of carrying out a
feasibility study for the toll road project. Already 8 zones have been identified:
the Port-Louis Ring Road
the Harbour Bridge
the A1M1 Bridge
the Terre-Rouge-Verdun Link Road
the Verdun-Trianon Link Road
the highway between Bagatelle and Valentina
the highway M1 between Pont-Fer and Port-Louis
the highway M2 between Quai D and Terre-Rouge.
However, the final decision regarding the zones where a toll will be applied will be taken by
the government. The conditions regarding the whole project aiming at solving the
congestion problem in the island will be known by the end of this month.
In a number of countries, for toll roads, the fees are collected by hand at toll gates. The
setting up of such gates is outdated as this is likely to result in more traffic jams. If the
government intends to implement the toll, it should only be done through the ERP
(Electronic Road Payment) system. The Singaporean authorities should be able to provide
the necessary details as this system has been successfully implemented in that country.
Till more information about the project is supplied by the RDA, heres hoping that the fee
charged will be reasonable and that the toll road method will indeed help alleviate the
transport problem in the island.

Road Infrastructure

Toll roads / Harbour Bridge (Rs 30 billion) GroupFive / Strabag denies choice Colas /
Bouygues as 'Most Preferred Bidder'

The challenge presented to the RDA Friday afternoon before the formal appeal to the
Independent Review Panel

Terre-Rouge/Verdun Link Road: Claims of Rs 709 million Colas still pending and
uncertainty at the end of this important road project

Metro-light Priority immediate realignment and 'Land Requirements' between Curepipe

and Port Louis

Despite efforts by the Central Procurement Board trying to reassure procedures adopted in
relation to the awarding of the contract under the Mauritius Decongestion Road Project to a
maximum of Rs 30 billion, the controversy is gaining momentum at the start of the year. Indeed,
the German consortium / JV South African GroupFive-Strabag, rejected by the Road
Development Authority for the benefit of Colas / Bouygues (PLAN), took the initiative to
challenge the choice of the latter group as Most Preferred Bidder. As stated by Weekend, the
decision to allocate this contract, which are major components of network management of toll
roads across the island as well as the construction of the Harbour Bridge crossing the harbor, was
approved for period end of year festivities. This case will be added to the controversies that
characterize large infrastructure projects carried out under the supervision of the Ministry
allocated to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Infrastructure Anil Bachoo. There
is no doubt that this major contract will become a Political Hot Potato Very (VHPP) as are last
year's Rs 709 million claims submitted by Colas for the work of the Link Road to TerreRouge/Verdun an initial value of Rs 2.2 billion (+ 30%). Another important road infrastructure
project will begin to take shape in 2013, the Light Rail System (Metro-light), with the allocation
procedures of contract committed by the end of the year.

spite of the atmosphere of Christmas year-end, consultants and officials Strabag consortium JVGroupFive have no idle. Working with a major law firm business and Mauritian legal advice
from Germany and South Africa, the consortium ousted year tender by the Road Development
Authority has developed its folder to the challenge of choosing Colas / Bouygues. The Mauritius
Decongestion Road Project includes several major projects including the implementation and
operation of the Toll Road Network Management on strategic roads, is the Port Louis Ring Road,
the construction of the Harbour Bridge, the bridge connecting the lowlands of Plaines Wilhems,
the National Terre-Rouge/Verdun the Link Road, Verdun / Trianon Link Road, the highway
between Bagatelle to Valentina, the Iron Bridge between Port Louis and the stretch of highway
between North Pier D and Terre-Rouge.
Normally, the consortium German-South African had a period of 15 days to formally indicate its
disagreement with the choice of the Road Development Authority for the Most Preferred Bidder.
Cross-checking by Weekend indicate that the official letter with reasons that challenge the
decision of the RDA has been filed with the competent authorities in mid-day Friday, demanding
a revision of the Most Preferred Bidder choice.
Regardless of the decision of the RDA about this challenge, the consortium JV StrabagGroupFive prepares to defend its position before the Independent Review Panel within the time
prescribed by the law governing the procurement. In doing so, the folder bidder intends to submit
this includes a real string of gaps and deficiencies identified to date in the procedures adopted by
the RDA for choosing Colas / Bouygues.
GroupFive-side of Strabag, it refrains to report the content of the objections to be lodged.
However, they can capitalize on the changes and the changes since the Clarification Letter of the
Central Procurement Board consortium Colas / Bouygues dated November 16. Following
objections raised, the CPB had made ??requests to the consortium to make changes in design
proposals and Interchanges in the area of Phoenix.
request CPB This involved long after the close of the deadline for tender, on October 23, is
considered a violation of the provisions of the expected size Public Procurement Act. This
request for clarification from the bidder Colas / Bouygues about "details of Their Proposed
design of the Phoenix, and Jumbo Dowlut Interchanges" was made ??by the Transaction Advisor
or SPP Projects Solutions, represented by Darron Johnson.
Note 1 in Road Decongestion the PPP Program Project: TET Final Evaluation Report on page 45
of this confidential document confirms this change request proposals, including "The Proposed
design in the clarification response is preferable to Proposed That in the Best and Final offer
(BAFO) response. The Technical TET did not update icts scoring of the consortium's BAFO
response since the consortium HAD a revised Proposed design. However the Technical TET
recommends que le revised design shoulds be ADOPTED shoulds be appointed the consortium
as Preferred Bidder. "
Within the consortium GroupFive-Strabag, the chronology of events since the closure of the
trading period with the provision abortive Letter Most Preferred Bidder for the date of 26
November for Colas, Bouygues will be a centerpiece in the challenge.

Indeed, with the initial plan to mature on November 26 last year was foiled due to severe
denunciations in columns Weekend and Mauritius. A document circulating since late last year
under the coat, highlights the fact that at some point, there was talk of leapfrogging, including
the endorsement of the Council of Ministers.
" This is scandalous as the government will need to pay and give Sovereign Guarantee and the
Transaction Advisor feels That It is not Necessary to get the approval of the government, "say
experts in the field. Later in this same letter of denunciation to the members of government to
thwart this plan, reference is made ??that "the most scandalous issue is submission of que leColas and Bouygues is not compliant do not meet the technical Request for Proposal
requirements ".
Witness the gaps identified in the submissions Colas, Bouygues, is the absence of Graded
Separated Interchanges, problems of traffic roundabouts in Phoenix, and Jumbo Dowlut no
solution to congestion problems already existing overflow traffic spilled into the local network,
the postponement to 2022, five years after the end of the work, "Upgrades at Interchanges" and
the need to resort to compulsory acquisition of land for the realization this project.
In addition to this, the design for the construction of the Harbour Bridge, a key pillar placed in
the middle of the harbor and reducing any potential development of the Cruise Terminal, appears
on the front line of the facts attributed to controversial proposals Colas -Bouygues.
Anyway, this is not the first time that the Colas Group is caught in the midst of the dispute.
Another site road infrastructure therefore, the construction of the Link Road TerreRouge/Verdun, been a real showdown between the contractors and the Road Development
Authority.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Infrastructure grants existence since September of
last year a dispute over claims extra payment of Rs 709 million on an initial contract of Rs 2.2
billion. At the end of last year, this application claims was still under consideration by the RDA
Another direct consequence of these problems relates to additional work the backlog for the
operationalization of this arterial road between the north and center of the island to avoid the trap
of Port-Louis. A hotel of the government, it is believed that this road could be open to traffic by
the end of the first quarter.
Given the state of the field and Colas statements confirming significant delays for topographical
reasons and others, it is clear that the introduction of this route should only occur towards the end
of this year at the earliest.
Moreover, the proposed construction of metro-light between Curepipe and Port Louis will make
their way in the list of forced labor Anil Bachoo. Early this year, consultants Singapore
Cooperation Enterprise will be asked to submit the first sketches of the new route for the Light
Rail Transit System Mauritius for the initial part, before any extensions to the north (Port Louis
to Grand Bay) and South (Curepipe to Mahebourg).

During the past three months, Singaporeans have had the opportunity to conduct a series of raids
on places to identify constraints in the formulation of this plot . Even if the option of a metrolight, built on stilts in many places, is retained, compulsory acquisition of land are to be
expected. The Singapore Cooperation Enterprise will present its first proposals to the
government early this year to meet the timetable establishing a first call to the end of the year
and the start of work in 2014.
Along the same lines, the government started at the end of last year a Market Sounding Session
Mauritius Light Rail Transit. "To address the problem of congestion, the government of
Mauritius is Investigating the introduction of the Light Rail Transit System Mauritius (MLRT)
Between Curepipe and Port Louis, together with Supporting Measures Such as integrated bus
services and integrated ticketing system. The Government of Mauritius is Strongly Committed to
the success of this project, "says the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which adds with the
Market Sounding Session" the Government of Mauritius is seeking to ESTABLISH the potential
market interest and the ranks of alternative PPP schemes That Will determines the viability,
sustainability and capacity of the future Light Rail Transit System Mauritius. "
Bread on the board at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure ...
Work in progress: To the North more accessible
To a bypass road Schoenfield, Rivire-du-Rempart will be built, which will enable road users to
make easier and faster the north of the island, taking in the villages of Trebuchet and Hope
Cottage. Phase II of this project has already started to ring. As for the Goodlands bypass at a cost
of Rs 294.8 million, it has greatly contributed to improve traffic flow in this region very hectic
and busy.
Moreover, the East Coast Trunk Road linking the extreme north to the extreme East . This road
project 30 km between Forbach and Bel Air has necessitated the compulsory acquisition of land.
A second carriageway between Grand Baie and Pamplemousses will emerge, with investments of
Rs 500 M. The rehabilitation of the road Riche-Terre has already started and will cost Rs 75 M.
Decongestion of the city: Always a Priority
The widening of the M1 between Phoenix and Port-Louis completed more than 80%. Rs 52.2
million were spent on a bridge at straws, while progress on enlargement Colville Deverell Bridge
are at 50%. As a reminder, the second lifting bridge that occurs in the transformation program of
the National three lanes in each direction between Port Louis and Phoenix.
Works are undertaken by Sinohydro (China) under the supervision of engineers Road
Development Authority. The contract amount is Rs 257.8 million. Is a Contract-Based Measure,
the final cost will depend on the volume of work undertaken. The expansion of the bridge in the
direction of Port-Louis, to 8m50 in width over a length of 111m, started since January 16, 2011.
It is expected that the project be delivered in July 2013.
Beginning of Phase II of the Ring Road this year

The first phase of Ring Road in Port Louis is about to be completed. Will follow the Phase II
project, including technical and financial specifications are still unclear. There was talk last
September that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure abandons the path of the Ring Road beyond
Tranquebar. The reason given: with the realization of the Harbour Bridge, there is no longer any
need to continue the route until Pitot Valley.
Commissioning of Harbour Bridge will facilitate the connection with the Quai D Caudan.
Therefore, the path of the second phase of the Ring Road should be amended with a road leading
to Tranquebar attached. From there, motorists can reach Chteau D'Eau around the Champ-deMars.
Initially, the second phase would see the construction of a 775m tunnel under the mountain
Corner Beef with access to Chateau D'eau along the slope of Mount Signals to Tranquebar.
Thereafter, it will cross the back of the hill before heading Monneron Valley Pitot Plaine-Verte,
Cit Martial, Nicolay Road and Pier D.
In 2010, the 384 squatters on the route of the Ring Road Valle Pitot offered stiff resistance to
any possible relocation.
By cons, compulsory acquisitions of land in Les Salines on the route of the Harbour Bridge have
already begun. The frustration of the people is even greater than some believe that political
lobbies in favor of squatters north of the capital seem to have weighed their weight for
realignment with the end of the Ring Road at Tranquebar. Thus, according to the latest available
information, the Department has opted for a tunnel under the mountain of signals with an output
just before Tranquebar near the Champ-de-Mars.
The Caudan interchange and the Third Way
After rise to various controversies, the Caudan flyover was delivered April 10, 2012, almost a
year later. But the delivery of the project, at a cost of Rs 200 million, however, did not help
matters, the proof being the slowdown monster found the first two days of commissioning. The
Minister of Public Infrastructure Anil Bachoo, however enough to praise the commissioning of
the flyover as expected.
Economy time is 15 minutes, provided by the Caudan flyover, announced with fanfare by Anil
Bachoo, is hard to see.
To reminder, the launch took place during a relatively quiet period because of school holidays,
and one hour average traffic. In fact, to get to the capital, on average it takes 10 to 15 minutes
more, with heavy traffic in the vicinity of Camp Chapelon and Place d'Armes.
For example, the number of vehicles entering the bottleneck Pont Colville-Sorze increased,
which resulted in a first cause slowdown at Bagatelle and a second, more pronounced BellVillage to the Place d'Armes for those who choose the flyover.

The third track, cost of Rs 150 million, is currently under construction from the flyover and
continue until the Postal Museum. The second stage of the project will involve a new section
about 1 km between the Place d'Armes, where the angle is located McDonald, and Caudan
flyover. This section will run along the two output channels of the current capital. Work will
begin shortly and will be spread over ten months.

Introduction of Tolls at Mauritius: Prem

Beeharry: "The Tender Conditions
Respected"
This is the Independent Review Panel (IRP) that will be called upon to decide in the dispute over
the choice of tenderer for the introduction of tolls in Mauritius. According to Prem Beeharry, the
president of the Central Procurement Board (CPB), "all procedures were followed."

In this case, the CPB is pointed to the Independent Review Panel (IRP), because the call of the
tenderer, the South African group Strabag JV-GroupFive disputes the final choice of CPB for
Plan Consortium French duo Bouygues / Colas.
Questioned, Prem Beeharry, president of CPB, serene says: 'A Public Private Partnership (PPP) is
complicated and technical. We had to call on foreign expertise, failing to have with us, and
everything was done according to the procedures and conditions of the tender. If a dispute before
the IRP at the CPB, we are confident. '
The project cost of congestion is estimated at Rs 30 billion. It covers the area of ??the
roundabout at the Phoenix Red Earth, including the 'ring road', the Harbour Bridge, the bridge
A1M1, the Terre Rouge-Verdun Link Road, Verdun-Trianon Link Road, the Highway Bagatelle
and Valentina, the Iron Bridge and Port-Louis and the M2 motorway between Pier D and TerreRouge. This is a PPP project and the Mauritian government fund account for 80% and 20%
bidder.
In the technical report, several shortcomings are noted in the offer of Bouygues / Colas,
including the ramp in Phoenix who would not allow to go Jumbo movements in the South, much

less for pedestrians. And as the region has a whole system to the sewer, "it will be impossible to
build an underpass. "The Transaction Advisor noted other deficiencies in the documents
submitted by the French duo.
Breaches
What is surprising is that the closure of the international tender was fixed at 23 October 2012 and
section 23 of the Act states that CPB will not accept amendments to documents after the close "
Withdrawal and modifications of bids : A bidder may modify, substitute or withdraw its bid after
submission, where the written notice of the modification substitution or withdrawal is received
by the public body (CPB) before the deadline for the submission of bids "
However, in a letter dated November 16, 2012, more than three weeks after the closing date of
the tender and signed by K. Dosieah, Acting Secretary of the CPB, the institution written Plan
Consortium, which has its headquarters in St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, to report deficiencies
in its documents. They are listed with technical details and CPB offers solutions to address them.
"In view of these shortcomings, the CPB proposes that they be given urgent consideration," reads
the letter.
" The Plan Consortium may wish to consider the following in arriving at a suitable solution : M1
could be located on overpass over the existing round-abouts at both Phoenix and Dowlut,"
advises CPB French Consortium.
The CPB also to solve the problem in Phoenix, that " a centre point interchange could also be
considered and in the long term a directional ramp may be required to accommodate the
movement and could be included in the design of the M1" An alternative roundabouts Phoenix
and Dowlut is to "one-way frontage roads to Provide access onto the M1 entre le two roundabouts." Two other proposals are still made Bouygues / Colas: " Should you require any further
explanation to this request, the CPB will consider clarification queries addressed through the
Transaction Advisor," concludes the CPB.