Comparison Between Solicited and Unsolicited Projects: Rail and Road Transport Infrastructure Investment Projects for a Developing Economy

Abstract

Road and rail transport infrastructure projects are typically initiated through solicited and unsolicited proposals within Sri Lanka. The difference between the processes according to the planning framework often leads to different levels of involvement and responsibilities for the public and external funding sources. However, no robust research exists to capture the differences, exists to capture the differences, depending on the planning process, in the roles and involvement of project participants and impact of those differences on project amount of capital investment. To compare the planning process, key personnel involved in the planning were interviewed and draft the main differences of the steps between solicited and unsolicited projects. The findings indicated that solicited projects were undergoing at least detailed feasibility study on economic, social, environmental and design before the project approval, whereas unsolicited projects approve without robust evaluation. Selection of contractors for solicited projects through tending, but unsolicited projects were constructed by funding source appointed body. Therefore, possibility of influence on unsolicited project was limited by the public sector. These differences clearly indicated through t-test, there is a significant capital investment difference between solicited and unsolicited projects for both railway track and expressway projects. Based on the finding, practical recommendation provided for success of solicited and unsolicited projects