NPR contractors told to finish dispute-free stretch by July 15

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has asked the contractors of the northern peripheral road (NPR) to complete the work on the stretch that is free from any litigation in the next 15 days.

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has asked the contractors of the northern peripheral road (NPR) to complete the work on the stretch that is free from any litigation in the next 15 days.

HT Image

"We have asked the contractors to finish the carpeting (bituminous) work on 13.7-km stretch of the NPR by July 15," said a senior Huda official, requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said the Huda has not slapped any penalty on the contractors even though the contract agreement has the provision for the same.

As per the agreement, Huda can cut up to 10% of the total project cost as penalty for delay.

JSR Construction Pvt Ltd and Indiabulls Construction Limited were awarded the project by Huda on April 1, 2011 with one year completion deadline that ended on March 31, 2012. The NPR, also known as Dwarka Expressway, missed its deadline on June 30 for the fourth time. The cost of the project is R132 cr. The Huda had a year ago threatened the contractors of imposing a heavy penalty if they missed the deadline of October, 2012.

According to a senior Huda official, a little less than 14 km of the total 18-km road between Kherki Daula and New Palam Vihar that borders Dwarka in Delhi is not under any litigation.

Meanwhile, the delay in NPR project has caused delay in about 100 other projects.

"The government should complete the NPR as people's hard-earned money is invested in the project," said Navin Raheja, president of national realty development council (NRDC) of India.

The NPR is the state government's widest-ever (150 metre) expressway project and is to connect Dwarka in Delhi with Kherki Daula on National Highway 8.