NHAI to monitor highway projects with abnormally low bids
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

NHAI to monitor highway projects with abnormally low bids

Highways projects are being sold to private players at abnormally low prices, and now they will be put under a separate list for critical monitoring by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The concerned officers would need to ensure that the contractors have used adequate resources and visit the sites every fortnight to see the actual progress.

The NHAI issued a circular to deal with abnormally low bids (ALBs).

According to the media reports, private bidders are quoting low prices for government-funded highway projects, and this has become a matter of concern, and also flagged by a parliamentary standing committee.

The number of bidders for these projects has grown notably since the government did away with a required deposit of extra bid security from contractors who quote low prices.

Many of the projects have been bid out at 20-30% less than the price proposed by the government companies.

As per the NHAI circular, ALBs would be classified separately in the data lake (central database of all projects). So that details uploaded there can be observed by the concerned technical division's project director and regional officer. Monthly reports would be produced for monitoring and perusal.

It is now compulsory for officers concerned to take measures to ensure the contractors use required resources and examine monthly drone videography of work. NHAI would deploy more engineers for day-to-day observation.

Quality inspections would be conducted once in three months for projects bid out under more than 20%, and for those tendered under 10% to 20%, these inspections would be conducted every six months.

The policy says the regional officers, the project directors, and people from headquarters would be required to conduct inspections at worksites every fortnight, every two to three months.

Image Source


Also read: NHAI mandates drone surveillance for all highway projects

Also read: Govt mandates safety audits at all stages of road development

Highways projects are being sold to private players at abnormally low prices, and now they will be put under a separate list for critical monitoring by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The concerned officers would need to ensure that the contractors have used adequate resources and visit the sites every fortnight to see the actual progress. The NHAI issued a circular to deal with abnormally low bids (ALBs). According to the media reports, private bidders are quoting low prices for government-funded highway projects, and this has become a matter of concern, and also flagged by a parliamentary standing committee. The number of bidders for these projects has grown notably since the government did away with a required deposit of extra bid security from contractors who quote low prices. Many of the projects have been bid out at 20-30% less than the price proposed by the government companies. As per the NHAI circular, ALBs would be classified separately in the data lake (central database of all projects). So that details uploaded there can be observed by the concerned technical division's project director and regional officer. Monthly reports would be produced for monitoring and perusal. It is now compulsory for officers concerned to take measures to ensure the contractors use required resources and examine monthly drone videography of work. NHAI would deploy more engineers for day-to-day observation. Quality inspections would be conducted once in three months for projects bid out under more than 20%, and for those tendered under 10% to 20%, these inspections would be conducted every six months. The policy says the regional officers, the project directors, and people from headquarters would be required to conduct inspections at worksites every fortnight, every two to three months. Image Source Also read: NHAI mandates drone surveillance for all highway projects Also read: Govt mandates safety audits at all stages of road development

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?