Key Connection

01 Nov 2017 Editorial Team

The Kaithal-Rajasthan border highway project will improve connectivity, ensure safety and spur infrastructure development in four districts in Haryana. Improved connectivity, safety and economic prosperity in four districts - that's what the Kaithal-Rajasthan border highway project will bring to the region! The four-lane highway project has been recently commissioned by Kaithal Tollway (KTPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of IRB Infrastructure Developers. Crucial location The project on NH-152/65 starts from Kaithal (km 33+250) to the Rajasthan border (km 241+580) with a total length of around 166.26 km. The road section traverses through the Kaithal, Jind, Hisar and Bhiwan districts of Haryana. The nodal towns on the stretches are Kalayat, Narwana, Barwala, Hisar, Barwa and Siwani. The improved design and safety features of the project will be instrumental in decongesting the traffic plying through these nodal towns on the stretches, also reducing the high pollution levels and, of course, the high accident rate. The project will expedite the improvement of infrastructure in Haryana and enhance mobility in adjoining regions with significant reduction in vehicle operating costs and travel time. Needless to say, it will play a significant role in achieving national development and contributing to the overall performance and social functioning of the community. Scope of work The project involved the conversion of the two-lane highway into four lanes and comprises 166.26 km of four-lane carriageway, 20.90 km of service road, 13 minor bridges, five flyovers, a railway-over-bridge, 241 culverts, 18 pedestrian underpasses, five vehicular underpasses, 71 intersections and three fee plazas. Says Sudhir Rao Hoshing, Joint Managing Director, IRB Infrastructure Developers, 'The scope of work broadly included rehabilitation, upgrade and widening of the existing carriageway to four-lane standards with the construction of a new pavement, rehabilitation of the existing pavement, construction or rehabilitation of major and minor bridges, culverts, road intersections, interchanges, drains, etc, and the operation and maintenance thereof.' The concession period of the project is 27 years from the appointed date and the concessionaire is allowed to collect the notified user fee from the road users during this period. It has been executed as a PPP on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. The 'BOT' USP NHAI had awarded the project to IRB Infrastructure Developers in 2014. This marks the eighth scheme in the company's BOT (build, operate, transfer) portfolio. Moreover, it is one of the largest by any private highway infrastructure developer, being built at a cost of Rs 2,290 crore, including a viability gap funding of Rs 234 crore. 'IRB's construction business complements its BOT vertical by executing the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance (O&M) aspects of BOT concessions,' adds Hoshing. 'Thus, with our proven track record in generating sustained value from the Kaithal-Rajasthan border highway project on BOT basis, we remain clearly focussed on our core area of strength. While our road infrastructure helps empower communities, we are always keen on social contributions in our areas of operation.' Execution focus The project was designed as per the latest IRC specifications and standards manual and executed in strict adherence with MoRTH and IRC specifications for roads and bridges, says Hoshing. 'All latest equipment were used to achieve the best quality and timely completion of this project. The company has its own adequate quantity of asphalt plants, wet-mix plants, concrete batch mix plants, crushing plants of different capacities, asphalt pavers, tandem rollers and pneumatic tyre rollers. We use the latest technology to meet any challenges arising during project execution.' Training programmes and sessions were regularly conducted on health, safety and environment for employees of the company. 'Prior to the execution of the project, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done and restoration procedures and mitigation plans drawn up,'hares Hoshing. 'The company strictly follows health, safety and environment norms as per the guidelines of the Centre and state governments. Apart from our full-fledged team of QA and QC engineers, a monthly technical audit is performed from the head office.' On schedule! Built at a total project cost of Rs 2,290 crore, and having achieved the commercial operation date (COD), IRB's SPV has managed to complete 144.67 km, ie 87 per cent construction work, four months ahead of schedule. 'The project was provisionally completed on available land, and the balance work will be completed as per schedule,' assures Hoshing. Project Details Location: Kaithal-Rajasthan Border Section of NH-152/65 (from km 33+250 to km 241+580) in Haryana. Type: PPP on DBFOT basis. Construction contractor: Modern Road Makers, Mumbai (wholly-owned subsidiary of IRB Infrastructure Developers). Completion: September 2017. Total cost: Rs.2,290 crore.