MoRTH awards ₹31,000-cr projects from April to August

The NHAI has awarded the highest length of projects during FY 2020- 21 to date as compared to the projects awarded during the same period in the last three years. From April to August 2020, NHAI has awarded 26 projects of 744 km length as compared to 676 km in FY 2019-20, 368 km in FY-2018-19 and 504 km in FY 2017-18. The capital cost of these 26 projects is over ₹31,000 crores, which includes the cost of civil construction, land acquisition, and other pre-construction activities. NHAI has set a target of awarding 4500 km of the highway during the current FY and is likely to exceed the same. NHAI took various initiatives to instil confidence in the bidders in the country's road and highway sector. To ease the liquidity crunch and ensure cash flow to the contractors, NHAI ensured that no payments are delayed due to closure of office and disbursed ₹10,000 crore during the lockdown in March 2020 using digital platforms. In the first quarter of the current FY, NHAI disbursed more than ₹15,000 crore to vendors. With the increase in awards and expanding highway construction, NHAI has got a good start for a year marred by the global outbreak of the pandemic.