NHAI shortlists 10 cos to bid for `5,000 cr projects

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has shortlisted 114 highway construction companies and developers in the annual technical qualification initiated by the body in March this year. Ten of these have qualified to directly put in financial bids for projects over Rs 5,000 crore. These companies stand a good chance of bagging mega highway proj­ects spanning over 300-500 km as well as Expressways. L&T Infrastructure Development Pro­j­­ects, Leighton Contractors India, Reliance Infrastructure, Lanco Infratech and GMR are among companies which can bid for projects above Rs 5,000 crore. These projects will connect around 9,000 km. The ministry has been directed to prepare a shelf of projects of around 10,000 km and another 15,000 km to be taken up for preparation of DPRs by the Prime Minister's Office.