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NHAI to shake dust off three stalled road projects in State by floating fresh tenders
After taking over three stalled road projects in the State, including the Chennai-Tada Tollway road from private developers for various reasons, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) hopes to revive them by inviting fresh tenders for these works soon.
According to National Highways Authority of India sources, work began on six laning the Chennai-Tada stretch (43.4 km), awarded to Larsen and Toubro Limited, in April 2009.
The project was scheduled for completion by 2011. But due to land acquisition problems, the project remained incomplete and deemed a non-performing asset by the company last year.
Thirty per cent work on widening NH-5 is pending due to delay in acquiring lands within Chennai metropolitan area.
Similarly, work on the 93 km Poonamallee-Walajahpet (Essel Infrastructure limited), six-lane project, commenced in 2013 but stalled with less than 20 per cent work finished, primarily due to payment default issues.
Officials of NHAI told Express that the take over of both the projects, which fall under phase V of National Highways Development Project of NHAI, was completed by May.
As far as the 32 km Chennai Bypass toll road (MEP infrastructure developers) is concerned, National Highways Authority of India officials say although work has been completed entirely, disputes arose between the concessionaire and National Highways Authority of India on issues such as toll evasion and fee rule notification.
“We have taken over the maintenance work of the Bypass road, but we will invite fresh tenders for it along with the other two projects, by early next year. The Poonamallee-Walajahpet road, with only less work done, will be treated as a new project,” the official said. Junior Seau Jersey
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