NHAI invites bids for 161 km of northern RRR

Works estimated at ₹7,104 crore divided into five packages

In a major step towards development of the prestigious Regional Ring Road, the National Highways Authority of India has invited bids for 4-lane access-controlled highway on the northern side of the State Capital.

Divided into five packages, the tenders envisage development of greenfield expressway allowing speeds of 120 kmph spanning 161 km with an estimated ₹7,104 crore. The access-controlled greenfield regional expressway would be developed between Girmapur village in Sangareddy district to Rayagiri in Yadadri Bhongir district. Package-wise, works have to be taken up between Girmapur-Reddipalle (43 km, ₹1,529.19 crore), Reddipalle-Islampur (26 km, ₹1,114.80 crore), Islampur-Pragnapur (23 km, ₹1,184.81 crore), Pragnapur-Rayagiri (43 km, ₹1,728.22 crore) and Rayagiri-Tangadpalli (35 km, ₹1,547.04 crore).

In its notification of Request for Proposal (RFP) issued on Friday, the NHAI asked eligible contractors to submit both technical and financial bids package-wise on the e-tenders portal for the works that would be taken up on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract basis. The last date for submission of bids is February 14 and they would be opened on February 17.

The NHAI said that works should be completed within two years from their launch and the contracting agencies should take care of the maintenance of the greenfield expressway for five years. The RFP had been notified at a time when there is no clarity on whether the necessary clearances had been obtained as also about the number that will be assigned to the proposed expressway. Also, no official announcement has been made on whether the acquisition of the required land had been completed and about the compensation that will be offered to those losing the land.

According to initial estimates, the project would mandate acquisition of 1,895 hectares of which, notification had been issued for 1,862 hectares. The government is learnt to have exploring options to ensure that compensation to those losing land is satisfactory as farmers have represented their concerns over the lower rate of compensation fixed by the previous government.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy welcomed the notification issued by the NHAI and appreciated Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy for his relentless efforts leading to speeding up of works on the northern part of the RRR. The project which hit a road block in 2017 was put back on track following the efforts of Mr. Venkat Reddy, the Chief Minister said.