The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has served a notice for revocation of contract to the Delhi-Jaipur highway developer for poor upkeep of the 277-km stretch of road.
The Government’s move comes after the developer, Pink City Expressway, did not pay heed to its several reminders for speeding up the work for maintenance of the stretch. The NHAI is also upset with it as the developer has also failed to meet the December 2011 deadline set for highway expansion.
“The expansion work started in 2009 and we were expecting a completion by December 2011. It is more than two years since the deadline and the developer is still unwilling to commit on a completion date,” said an official. “This is the final warning. We have sent them a notice asking them to perform or quit. There is no scope for further negotiation,” he said.
Vijay Chibber, secretary at Ministry of Roads, Highways and Transport also supported NHAI’s decision for sending a termination notice to the developer.
The private developer is expected to submit their response to the government within a fortnight. “Now it is will be up to the developer to appease the NHAI by setting themselves a definite deadline for project completion and assurance of quality up keep at the stretch in their response,” said the official.
“Failing to which, the bankers (in this case the IDBI Bank) will get a window period of about six months to find a new developer for the project or else they will have to surrender the project to the NHAI,” he said.
According to the officials the developer has been given several reminders before being sent the notice. “This step should not only push this developer to perform but should also serve as a wake up call to all other private developers who are repeated missing deadlines,” said the official.
“This decision of handling over contract to a new developer in the situation of failure of the present developer to perform is fair for all commuters who have had to pay the mandatory toll charges despite poor travel and road facilities,” he said.