Contracts scrapped, Golden Quadrilateral faces further delay

Already running much behind schedule, work on Golden Quadrilateral project could be delayed further as contracts are still to be awarded for three highway stretches, even as the government has debarred 18 foreign and domestic firms from bidding for these projects.

"Three projects under GQ are still to be awarded. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans awarding the same under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) phase V," highways regulator sources told PTI.

Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) that falls under NHDP phase I aims to provide direct connectivity among the four metros - Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.

GQ had 128 contracts for constructing 5,846 km highways, sources said, adding, but 11 deals were later terminated due to delays.

As many as eight of these 11 terminated contracts can be re-awarded but three remaining projects in Karnataka and Orissa also remains to be awarded, sources added.

Recently Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu had said, "Out of 5,846 km of GQ, 5,713 km (97.72 per cent) has been completed and balance 133 is under implementation".

Earlier, the government declared seven foreign and 11 Indian firms as 'non-performers' and debarred them from bidding for NHAI projects.