NHAI plans to award 5,000-km highways contracts in 2014-15.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), after a dismal show in 2013-14, is readying its work plan for this financial year, one that reflects the pessimism enveloping the sector. It is planning to award about 2,000 km through cash contracts, or EPC mode, and is ready with 3,000 km to be bid via the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

NHAI officials said they have informed the highways ministry of their targets for 2014-15 but awarding projects on the EPC mode can only take off if NHAI is able to acquire 90% of the land. In addition, the final award on PPP mode would depend on the market response, which has been poor of late, and may need to be converted to the EPC mode if no bids are received.

ET