Dhaka, Apr 22 ((IANS): Two construction firms from India and China are competing to build a second highway between Dhaka and Chittagong at an estimated cost of $4.3 billion, an official said.

Soma JV of India and Sino Global Enterprise JV of China have submitted the bids in response to Bangladesh government's pre-qualification tender, Project Director Md. Mafizul Islam said here.

The submission of the bids has revived the project that was stalled in 2006 when only one firm submitted a bid to construct the highway, The Daily Star reported Thursday.

The project had been put on hold as the rules don't allow the government to award the job to any firm if there is only one bidder.

The official said an evaluation committee will complete the scrutiny of the documents submitted by the two firms in two weeks and then appoint a consultancy firm to finalise the design of the 215-km second highway.

"The second highway will ensure a safe journey and a smooth flow of traffic. It will also help save fuel," said the project director.