Contract Signed For Damodar City In Labasa
The construction of a Damodar City Complex in Labasa will “ignite” economic activity in the Northern Division, says Damodar Group chief executive officer Div Damodar.
The contract for phase one of its construction was awarded to Babased 4R Construction Limited yesterday, who were “handpicked” from a private shortlist.
“Our first priority are the local contractors because one of the things that drive us is the economic development of Fiji,” Mr Damodar said.
Work on the project will be done in three phases and will include a 40-room hotel wing. Construction is set to begin in the next three to four weeks, Mr Damodar said.
By its completion, the Damodar Group would have injected over $40 million in the project, Mr Damodar said.
It would be an increase of some $10 million from the investment made to construct Damodar City Complex, Suva.
The structure will be built near Fiji National University’s Labasa Campus.
Mr Damodar also said the company’s Labasa development had been dogged by controversy. “There was very bad speculation when we did Damodar City in Suva and the same thing is happening now by certain individuals with political agendas,” he said.
He did not elaborate any further but said the company was focussed on creating opportunities for Fijians.
“Government has created an environment in which we are confident to invest in and expand our development,” Mr Damodar added.
Project Phases
The “massive project’s” construction will be carried out in three phases.
Phase one will see the construction of the complex’s supermarket wing, which, once completed, will be the largest in the North, said Mr Damodar.
A “large” food court, 18 retail and two department stores will be during phase two.
The project will conclude with the construction of the hotel wing in phase three.
Mr Damodar said the first phase would take around 12 months to complete. No dates for phase two and three were revealed. Other nominated tenders according to a press statement include: Wormald for fire services; Bethel Electrical Ltd for electrical services; Engineered Design as structural consultants; Tritech Engineers as service consultants; Wood Jepsen as the surveyors; and Scope Pacific as the TIA consultant. Larsen Holtom Maybin Architects are the architectural and principal consultants.