Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the Road Development Authority that the Terre Rouge/Verdun Link Road, now known as the Motorway M3 Road was initiated by the RDA on 18 February 2010 and the project was completed on 30 November 2013. The cost of the initial project, comprising a total of 15.7 kilometres of dual carriageway was Rs2.162 billion inclusive of VAT. The final price was Rs2.896 billion inclusive of VAT, taking into consideration additional works, dispute settlement costs, remedial works, prolongation costs and price adjustments. The contractor on the project was Colas (Maurice), Colas (Madagascar) Terre Rouge/Verdun/Trianon Link Road Joint-Venture. Consultancy fees paid to the consultant Egis BCEOM International stands at Rs121 million inclusive of VAT.

82 I am informed that during the implementation of the project, several landslides occurred during the period 2010 to 2013 in four specific zones of cuts which prevented the completion of the project over a length of about 2.7 kilometres along the southbound carriageway towards Ripailles. I am informed that several attempts were made to reprofile the slopes at that time but given the complexity of the terrain, unusual geotechnical conditions and the high-water table, the works in whole could not be completed successfully. Hence, the decision of the RDA to allocate a separate contract for the treatment of the landslides in the best interest of the works. The contract was accordingly awarded to Sinohydro Corporation Limited for an initial amount of Rs762 million, inclusive of VAT. The commencement date was 3 October 2014 and the contract period was 457 calendar days, that is, up to 2 January 2016. Additional works were carried out for an increase in the scope of works due to redesign of slopes, installation of rock nets, extension of time with cost and repair of landslide, bringing the contract amount to Rs924 million, inclusive of VAT. Consultancy fees paid to the consultant GET2 on the project stands at Rs9.8 million, inclusive of VAT. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am further informed that after the expiry of the defects liability period, on 19 January 2015, cracks reappeared on the finished road level of the Terre Rouge/Verdun Link Road near Valton roundabout. The transverse cracks propagated very swiftly and the road eventually subsided due to a failure of the embankment. Several consultants were appointed by the RDA to determine the cause of the failure and to propose adequate solutions and provide assistance during supervision of the works, namely – (i) ARQ Consulting Engineers South Africa for an amount of Rs4.1 million inclusive of VAT; (ii) Korea Expressway Corporation for an amount of Rs2.7 million inclusive of VAT, and (iii) Water Research Contractor for the boreholes drilling for an amount of Rs4.3 million inclusive of VAT. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have been made aware that at that specific time, the professional indemnity insurance of the consultant Egis BCEOM International was still valid till December 2015. Despite that, for some obscure reasons, at that material time, the then Government did not explore any avenue legal or otherwise to recoup the cost of repairs from the consultant or the contractor. It should be highlighted that with a view to maintaining traffic on the Terre Rouge/Verdun Link Road at that point in time, a bypass road of 485 metres had to be constructed to avoid the damaged section. The works were allocated to

83 Gamma Construction Limited on 02 March 2015 for an amount of Rs18.3 million inclusive of VAT. The works started on 03 March 2015 and were completed on 06 April 2015. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, based on the solution proposed by KEC, namely a horizontal replacement method, the RDA awarded a contract for repair to embankment on Motorway M3 at Ripailles project through Transinvest Construction, previously known as Colas, one of the party to whom the initial contract was awarded as a joint-venture for Rs326.1 million inclusive of VAT. However, during the period mid-December 2017 to mid-January 2018, after frequent rainfall events, there were major cracks and slope movements, landslides on the mountain side, which affected the ongoing works. Subsequently, the contractor based on the advice of a leading expert in geotechnical engineering, proposed to undertake piles stabilisation to prevent the sliding as an additional measure. A consultancy contract was then awarded to CEREMA from France for an amount of Rs3.2 million inclusive of VAT which is specialised in such type of works, to undertake the reinforcement designs and provide assistance during supervision of the works. The piling works were awarded in September 2018 to Sinohydro Corporation (Mauritius) Limited for the sum of Rs142.4 million inclusive of VAT plus a provisional sum of Rs11.5 million, inclusive of VAT for unforeseen condition. The order to commence was issued on 22 October 2018 and all piling works were completed on 18 February 2019. The whole repair works were substantially completed on 19 July 2019. It is also worth to note that in January 2018, there was a collapse on the left-hand side northbound, approximately 475 metres from the Ripailles roundabout opposite one of the previously affected sections. In order to stabilise this section, a contract for the design and build turnkey was awarded to Sinohydro Corporation for the sum of Rs133.4 million, inclusive of VAT. The works started on 18 February 2019 and were completed on 16 September 2019. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, a project which initially started on 18 February 2010, to be completed on 30 November 2013 for a sum of Rs2.283 billion has ended up to be completed in September 2019, for a total sum of Rs5.238 billion, more than twice its projected initial cost, depicting the vulnerable condition arising out of climatic change, but at the same time, highlighting the weaknesses of non-timely actions which could have been taken in 2015. As regards part (b)(i) and (ii), the question does not arise.

Okay. Time is over!

84 The Table has been advised that the following PQs have been withdrawn – B/700, B/702, B/703, B/704, B/706, B/707, B/708. Motion!