The Infrastructure Ministry said today that it is planning to sue the Italian contractor responsible for the Dock 1 rehabilitation project for failing to respect contract conditions,  It is also demanding forfeiture of the bank guarantees totalling €957,000.

The ministry last week pulled the contractor off the road works forming part of the project and appointed another contractor instead.

It said today that that it has asked the Director of Contracts to stop the contract with Marinelli Costruzioni SpA for the rest of the Dock 1 project for failing to carry out the agreed works and for causing unacceptable inconvenience to all those who went to Cottonera.

In order not to lose EU funds allocated for the project, the ministry will also   issue a fresh call for tenders for completion of the works.

The €3.8 million Dock 1 embellishment project was launched in February 2008 when the government applied for EU funds. The funds were approved in August that year.

The call for tenders was issued in May 2010. There were four bids, with the contract being awarded to Marinelli because it submitted the cheapest offer. The works started in January last year and were meant to be completed by May this year.

The ministry said the contractor was unable to maintain the agreed work schedule or the provide the necessary resources.

The contractor was warned several times about shortcomings on the site and the lack of progress. The contractor then requested a time extension but the government concluded that the works could not be completed within a reasonable time.

The ministry said the work by the new contractor on the road between St Theresa Street and Bormla Wharf is proceeding at a fast pace. This extra work will cost €65,000.

It said that different contractors had completed the works on the public garden near San Gwann t'Ghuxa and the access to Dar Andrew. Rehabilitation works are underway at Verdala and St Nicholas residential quarters and on Xatt ir-Rizq.