Highway builders seek Rs 20,000 crore from NHAI

Highway developers have filed for claims amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore to road projects before various courts and arbitration tribunals across the country. According to the National Highway Builders Federation, these claims relate to additional cost incurred by the highway builders on account of delay in land acquisitions, shifting of utilities, cost escalation due to delay in the completion of projects and additional expenses owing to change in the scope of the projects. M Murali, Director General of NHBF said that highway developers have to incur additional expenditure on account of change in the scope of the project mid way. There is also considerable amount of delay in project completion and operation dates.