Georgia's Municipal Development Fund has cancelled a GEL 5.5 million tender announced in July for the design of a pedestrian bridge over the Chorokhi River connecting Batumi and Gonio, as well as the rehabilitation of Batumi Boulevard.
Three architectural companies participated in the tender. NS Studio was initially selected as the winner, but another bidder, DV Development LLC, challenged the decision before the Dispute Resolution Council. The Council partially upheld the complaint and ordered the Fund to reconsider its decision.
Following the ruling, the Municipal Development Fund cancelled the tender altogether, citing the need to revise the project area and technical requirements.
According to the Fund's published explanation, changing the project area could significantly affect design solutions, the scope of work and technical requirements. The revised documentation is expected to ensure equal and clearly defined conditions for all potential bidders.
It remains unknown when a new tender will be announced.
The project is particularly significant as the government has granted Eagle Hills usufruct rights to 2.6 million square metres of state-owned land in Gonio for a large-scale development project. The planned pedestrian bridge is intended to connect the area with Batumi Boulevard.
Meanwhile, Batumi's municipal landfill remains in the Chorokhi River delta in Gonio, approximately 500 metres from the planned bridge. Despite the construction of a new landfill in Kobuleti Municipality, Batumi's waste continues to be dumped at the Gonio site.
