NHAI raises technical experience requirement for bidders

In order to weed out non-serious players from bidding for the upcoming mega road projects, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised the technical experience requirement of the bidders.

As per the new guidelines set out by NHAI, to bid for construction part of a highway contract a firm should have completed at least one project, the value for which is either equivalent to a minimum of 20 per cent of the new one it is bidding for or Rs 500 crore, whichever is less.

In a special purpose vehicle formed for highway contract, there are usually 2-3 partners having expertise in various activities like construction, maintenance and toll collection.

The objective of introducing such a clause in a bidding documents is "engagement of strong and capable construction contractors" for successful implementation of the project, according to sources in NHAI.

Besides, a provision for change in the name of the construction partner of the SPV has also been made. But the change can only be made with the consent of NHAI.

Last year, Transport Minister Kamal Nath had said 'mega' projects of 400 km each would be awarded to speed up the road building programme in the country.

The NHAI had then identified nine such projects requiring an investment of about Rs 4,000 crore each. The length of the identified stretches vary between 390 km and 700 km.

Nath last month had said bids for awarding mega road projects would be invited within two months.