SC directs NHAI not to open bid for J'khand road project

The Supreme Court today directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) not to open the bids of the Hyderabad-based firm Madhucon projects for four-lanning of 163 Km stretch in Jharkhand.

A bench of justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph said that the bid submitted by Madhucon projects would be kept in a sealed cover before the Delhi High court, which is currently hearing the dispute.

In an interim order on December 20, the High Court had directed NHAI to open the price bids of Madhucon project and process the contracts.

The apex court, however, upheld the order of the High Court on not awarding the contract to any bidder until the dispute on the tender is disposed of.

The Supreme Court's direction came over a petition filed by Nagarjuna Construction owned NCC Infrastructure Holdings, challenging the High Court order.

NCC Infrastructure Holdings and Madhucon projects are in dispute for 4-lanning of 163 Km stretch between Ranchi to Jamshedpur under the NHDP, Phase III, on design,build, finance, operate and transfer mode.

NCC has contended that Madhucon bid was "non-responsive" as it had filed invalid power of attorney.

NCC has submitted that the High Court had tried to "push a disqualified into the ring". It further claimed that the award was made in favour of NCC and after the process, the court has tried to push a new player into the fray.

However, it was opposed by Madhucon, who submitted that no award was made and NCC was just lower bidder in the project. It further submitted that this was done by the high court keeping in mind that the project must take off and time should be saved.