NHAI defers bid deadline for ₹50,000-cr road projects

National Highways Authority of India has deferred bid deadlines for road construction projects of about 1,000 km in length by a month. The deadlines for these projects, worth ₹50,000 crore, have been extended because of restrictions that could hamper site visits and due diligence by potential bidders. The directive was issued by road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari. While new bids will continue to be invited, the postponement of existing bid deadlines could hurt the authority's target of awarding about 2,500 km of road projects in the first quarter of FY22. Covid-19 cases are increasing across the country by the day and companies will find it tough to visits the sites in such a situation. Most of these projects are being offered on engineering procurement construction and hybrid annuity models.