Welspun gets a go-ahead signal for ₹2,005-cr NH project

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given a go-ahead signal to the Welspun Enterprises to start work on the four-laning of Sattanathapuram-Nagapattinam highway section in Tamil Nadu at a cost of ₹2,005 crore. The infra builder informed that the authority has accorded approval for the appointed date with four-lane road and four-lane structures as against four-lane road and six-lane structures specified in the concession agreement. The current land availability will be of 29.39 km (52.71%) as against the requirement of 80%. Welspun Enterprises was to develop the project at a bid project cost for six-lane structure and first-year operation and maintenance cost of ₹5 crore. The reduction in bid project cost due to change from six-lane structures to four-lane has not yet been ascertained but is expected to be in the range of ₹100 to ₹150 crore with an equitable reduction in the cost of civil works. The construction is to be completed within two years from the appointed date and the project will be maintained for 15 years from commercial operation date.