Highway Expansion: NHAI submits ‘bid justification report’ of 2 ‘critical’ stretches
Work on Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal sector to start after Central Cabinet nod: Official
The National Highway Authority of India has submitted its “bid justification report” on expansion of Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu highway to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, officials said.
Highly placed sources told us that the NHAI has submitted two fresh proposals to justify the cost escalation—as demanded by the bidder—to execute the work on the project.
“For 43.3 km Udhampur-Ramban section, which was approved at Rs 1331 crore by National Highways Development Project (NHDP), the NHAI has submitted the fresh proposal with 28 percent hike as the bidder demanded Rs 1710 crore for executing the work,” they said.
Sources said for 36-km Ramban-Banihal section, a fresh proposal with 44% hike in the estimated cost fixed by the NHDP earlier, was mooted.
“The Union Ministry will now place the cost justification report before the Union Cabinet for its final approval,” the sources said. “The project will be physically executed only after the Cabinet nod.”
Sources said the government experienced “difficulties” in finding a bidder for widening of the Udhampur-Ramban section as well as Ramban -Banihal section due to its tough terrain and was consequently “forced to float tenders with revised rates.”
Only three players have expressed their interest in investing in Udhampur-Ramban section and two in Ramban-Banihal section and demanded more money than the estimated cost.
When contacted, Project Director NHAI, R P Singh confirmed that the justification reports were submitted to the Union Ministry.
“After considering various factors, verifying the bidders’ concern and keeping in view the importance of all-weather connectivity to Kashmir, we prepared the justification report and submitted to the Union Ministry,” he told .
He said once the report is approved by the cabinet, “tenders will be awarded to the bidder.”
Pertinently, the widening of Udhampur-Ramban section is part of ambitious four-lanning of Jammu-Srinagar highway being executed by the NHAI. The road will provide all-weather connectivity to Kashmir which remains cut off from rest of the world during harsh winter months due to closure of the thoroughfare following snowfall and incessant rains.
The four-laning project has been divided into six sub-projects, which include widening of Jammu-Udhampur section (65 km), Chenani-Nashri tunnel (9.2 km), widening of Ramban-Udhampur section (43.3 km), Banihal-Ramban section (36 km), Qazigund-Banihal road (15.25 km) and Srinagar-Banihal section (67.7 km).
So far 95.30 % work has been completed on Jammu-Udhampur section, while 68.88 % work is complete on Chenani-Nashri tunnel, 33.20% and 30% on Srinagar-Banihal and Qazigund-Banihal sections, respectively.
However, tenders were not awarded in favor of Ramban-Udhampur and Banihal-Ramban stretches yet.