In a stringent decision, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Friday barred 20 contractors from bidding till the end of next fiscal year on account of their failure to execute several highway and toll projects.
These companies will not be able to compete for PPP, EPC mode projects, NHAI tolls, and the Road Ministry’s projects till 2019.
The names include big banners like l&T, Hindustan Construction Company, Essel Infra Projects and MBl Infra. However, the firms have been asked to submit their representations by November 6.
The NHAI official said the companies have been “asked not to bid" for projects on “technical grounds” and all of them have been given certain dates till then they will not be able to take the NH projects.
The Central road developer said these companies have failed to fulfil the criteria and are unable to execute the projects awarded to them between 2015 and 2017.
"As per the procedures, all the defaulters are given a chance for hearing before going ahead with termination and so they have been asked to submit their objections on why their projects should not be terminated," said the official.
NHAI sources said the notice was put up on website for three days and was removed ultimately on Friday since the purpose was solved.
A senior official on condition of anonymity said the notice was removed because in some projects NHAI was a party in the project, a few had court cases and some had arbitration going on.
The list has projects which have been shortlisted for termination but before going ahead with it NHAI has procedure to give a chance for hearing to the concessionaire, said the official.