Evalution of state sector pre - construction delays.

Abstract

This research was conducted to ascertain the pre-construction delays in state sector projects. Data were collected from a sample of 22 projects, where contract value were over Rs.5.0 million for the study, from 11 different state sector organisations. Also, preconstruction durations of 08 private sector projects were obtained and analysed to compare the results with state sector projects. Interviews and documentary research are the two methods adopted for data collection. From the state sector projects surveyed, it was evident that an average of 131.9 weeks with a standard diviation of 55.5 weeks, were taken for the preconstruction phase, where minimum time taken and maximum time taken were 24.6 weeks and 226.3 weeks respectively. In comparison, private sector projects had taken an average 38.1 weeks with a standard diviation of 27.2 weeks, for pre-construciton phase which has a minimum and maximum time of 12.1 weeks and 81.3 weeks respectively. The main conclusions of the research were that unnecessary delay was .resulted due to pre-qualification of consultants and contractors without selecting from ICTAD register/Data bases maintained by respective state sector orgainzations for projects below 10 Million in value. Also, the time delay caused by Consultants/ Technical Evaluation committee to submit the evaluation report and to obtain Cabinet Approval were prominent in the pre-construction stage in state sector projects.