NHAI floats tender for ₹1,200-cr NH project

The National Highway Authority of India has floated tenders for converting the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway-4 bypass from Narendra cross to Gabbur cross into a six-lane stretch and a four-lane service road. The project costs ₹1,200 crore which includes ₹800 crore for construction of the road and ₹400 crore for land acquisition and allied expenses. The last date for submitting tenders and stipulated time for completing the work of converting the double road into a six-lane stretch and construction to two-way service road on either side of the bypass is two and half years. Tenders have been floated on an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis and the contractor will have to maintain the road for five years after the completion of the work. Only one toll plaza between Kelgeri and Narendra cross will be retained while all other toll plazas on the bypass will be removed. This will result in commuters between Hubballi and Dharwad being exempted from paying the toll. This will also reduce the congestion of traffic in city limits.