The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will complete these contracts but will not award fresh projects to Chinese firms.
The minister says as many as 80% projects can be done on PPP mode. Currently, half the national highway projects awarded by his ministry are on this basis
Contractors to be given funds every month
25% average toll collection loss to get one-day extension
In the backdrop of the large influx of migrants from other states, the state is expecting these mega projects to create local level jobs
The Minister said the NHAI has resumed 95 per cent of work on war-footing now with permission to start construction activities while adhering to guidelines.
Many of these firms, which have been grappling with Covid-19 crisis and exodus of migrant labour, will now be able to complete contractual obligations
Experts believe it will take about three to four months for the constructions to normalise and the fresh bidding of contracts is some time away.
In an interview to Megha Manchanda, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari says he is optimistic about the sector meeting its project execution target in a time-bound manner
The government will give thrust to the use of technology for speeding up project awards, so that the impact of time lapsed due to the coronavirus disease crisis can be minimised
Areas that are away from urban centres and where there have been minimal Covid-19 cases may be exempt; Maharashtra said to have allowed work on expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur
Government will issue guidelines that lay down criteria for restarting work
Was Gadkari taking a swipe at the Bihar government?
The average length of road projects awarded by NHAI in the last 5 years was 2,860 km, with 4,335 km awarded in 2016-17