NHAI awards projects worth over `31K cr during April-Aug of FY21; highest in three years

New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday said it has awarded projects worth Rs 31,000 crore in the first five months of the current fiscal year, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 26 projects for building 744 km length of highways were awarded during the April-August period of this fiscal, the NHAI said in a statement. "Despite challenges due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the NHAI has awarded highest length of projects during FY 2020-21 till date as compared to the projects awarded during same period in last three years.

"During April to August 2020, the NHAI has awarded 26 projects of 744 km length as compared to 676 km in FY 2019-20, 368 km in FY-2018-19 and 504 km in FY 2017-18," it said in a statement.

Capital cost of these 26 projects is over Rs 31,000 crore, which includes cost of civil construction, land acquisition and other pre-construction activities, it said. The NHAI said it has set a target of awarding 4,500 km of highway projects during the current fiscal and is likely to exceed the same.

"Despite lockdown and prevailing situation, the NHAI took various initiatives to instil confidence in the bidders of the sector. To ease liquidity crunch and ensure cash flow to contractors, NHAI ensured that no payments are delayed due to closure of office and disbursed Rs 10,000 crore during lockdown in March 2020 using digital platforms," the statement said.