Govt offers relaxed norms for construction companies

The Union government has offered relaxed norms for construction companies engaged in the construction of road infrastructure, real estate, stadium, warehousing, oil & gas exploration and hospitality sectors. It aims to increase the number of eligible contractors considering that the government wants to bid out more road projects to improve infrastructure and boost economic activities. In the past few years, the highway ministry has strategised to bid out small stretches to make small contractors eligible for such projects and also to uplift economic activities. This modification and a host of new amendments in the bidding norms are aimed at promoting domestic players under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Players who have worked in these expanded sectors will get more score to be qualified and in bagging projects. The relaxations have also been offered for the bidding of tunnel construction projects. According to changes in the bid parameters, no prior experience is required by contractors for tunnel measuring up to 200 metres. Similarly, in the case of bridges, no prior experience is required for such structures of up to 60 metres. These changes aim at promoting local players and will also infuse more equity in the sectors.