The Public-Private Partnership Approval Committee (PPPAC) is likely to approve nine highways projects worth Rs 15,000 crore by mid-November. The projects fall under National Highways Development Programme, Phase-V, which is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
?The PPPAC?s approval for the project is likely within 15 to 20 days. Meanwhile, the process of evaluation of projects is going on,? said an NHAI official.
Some of the major stretches among the nine projects include six laning of Delhi-Agra, Varanasi-Aurangabad, and Kishangarh-Udaipur.
These nine projects were put on the block for bidding by NHAI in September this year to expedite the awarding of the projects. Also, the changes made in the model concession agreement for bidding for projects are applicable on all the nine projects. As per the changes made by the finance ministry, these projects will be bided out with caps on number of bidders for financial bidding in force. Only top five bidders will participate in the financial bidding of these projects. However, future projects are exempt from this regulation.
Also, the ministry of road transport and highways? regulation that bars a bidder from participating in the bidding for a particular project, during a period of two months preceding the bid due date, has been qualified in financial bidding for eight projects, is also applicable on the nine projects. A company cannot bid for a project even if it has been awarded four projects.
These regulations are also applicable on 44 projects under NHDP, phase III, along with these nine projects. Incidentally, these changes in the biding clause have been challenged in the Delhi High Court. The court has reserved its decision on cap on number of bidders for financial bidding till November 3. However, NHAI is carrying on with the evaluation and other process so as to avoid delays in case the decision turns in their favour. ?The case is on particular clause not on the tendering process. So we are carrying on with the process so as to avoid further delay. We will act in accordance with the court?s decision,? the official added.