India plans to award construction-ready highway contracts, with all approvals in place, to curb delays
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The government is considering awarding national highway contracts only after obtaining all critical clearances, a move aimed at curbing project delays and cost escalation, according to two officials aware of the development.Under the proposal being considered, road projects will be awarded only after at least 90% of the land required is acquired, a norm already being enforced more strictly in recent years. In addition, the ministry of road transport and highways wants prior approval to remove structures such as houses and buildings that fall along the project stretch, an issue that has emerged as a key source of delays, one official said.According to the second official, even after land acquisition and statutory approvals, pending permissions to remove or modify built-up structures have stalled several projects.
A recent example was the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, where lack of clearance for certain structures delayed parts of the project and pushed timelines, the official said.The tender for the 210-km expressway was awarded in January 2021, and some sections became operational in early 2025. The expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 April.Minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari told Mint his ministry is taking up the matter to prevent delays in construction of highways.“This is a very constructive and timely move.
By ensuring that critical clearances, especially land acquisition and built-up structure approvals, are in place before awarding contracts, the ministry of road transport and highways is addressing one of the root causes of execution delays,” said professor Vijaya Sunder M of the Indian School of Business. “It reflects a shift from
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