Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 27: The National Highway Authority of India is learnt to have approached the Union Ministry of Surface Transport for revision of the estimates for four-laning of Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal stretches of the National Highway as the bidding contractors have sought much higher rates for the project work.
The lowest rates, offered in the recently invited bids for Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal stretches, are 28 percent and 44 percent, respectively, above the estimate rates of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), official sources informed the Excelsior.
As the proposal for revised estimates needs approval of the Union Cabinet and the entire process is likely to take time, work on four-lanning of these two stretches of the National Highway is unlikely to begin at least in next two-three months, sources added.
Pertinent to mention here that tenders for work on four-laning of Udhampur-Ramban (Udhampur to Chenani and Nashri to Ramban) were floated by the NHAI around five months back. The process in this regard was already delayed due to devastating floods in September, last.
Despite proper advertisement of the tenders and all cooperation extended by the NHAI, the response was inadequate as only two firms applied for Ramban-Banihal project and three for Udhampur-Ramban project, sources said.
Further, sources added, the lowest rates offered by the bidding firms were much higher than the estimated cost of the project.
While elaborating, sources disclosed that the lowest rate offered for four-lanning work of Udhampur-Ramban stretch is Rs 1710 crores, which is 28 percent more than the estimated cost (Rs 1339 crores). Similarly, the rate offered for Ramban -Banihal project is Rs 1783 crores, which is 44 percent above the estimate project cost (Rs 1239 crores) sources added.
The inadequate response and higher rates than the estimate cost, have forced the NHAI to take up the matter with Union Minister of Surface Transport suggesting revision of rates as the only option for starting work on four-laning of these two stretches, which is already delayed, sources explained.
Sources said that a formal proposal in this regard has been sent by the NHAI to the Surface Transport Ministry, which will further take up the matter for approval of Union Cabinet to the revised estimates.
Since the entire process involves some procedural issues, the four-laning work on these two stretches of the National Highway is unlikely to start in next two-three months even if the Union Cabinet accords its approval to the revised estimate rates, sources hint.
The widening of these two stretches is part of the NHAI’s flagship project of four-laning Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The NHAI has divided the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway four-laning project into sub-projects, which include widening of Srinagar-Banihal road (67.7 kms), Qazigund-Banihal road (15.25 kms), Ramban-Banihal road (36 kms), Udhampur-Ramban road (43 kms) and widening of Jammu-Udhampur road (65 kms).
The stretch between Udhampur-Ramban has been further divided into Udhampur-Chenani road, Chenani-Nashri tunnel (12 kms) and Nashri-Ramban road. The widening of 36 km long Ramban-Banihal stretch of the National Highway will comprise six small tunnels.
While widening of Jammu-Udhampur road has been completed, work on Chenani-Nashri tunnel has progressed more than 60 percent.
Follow our WhatsApp channel