Soma-Isolux eyes 2 road widening projects

New Delhi: Soma Enterprises-Isolux Corsan consortium may bag two highway widening projects from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The projects are 6-laning of 190-km stretch on Varanasi-Aurangabad section and construction of 18.3 km of 4-lane, elevated road from Chennai Port to Maduravoyal.

Soma-Isolux consortium has sought the lowest viability gap funding (VGF) from NHAI for these two projects, said industry sources.

For the Varanasi-Aurangabad project, Gammon India had also submitted its bid. For the Chennai Port to Maduravoyal project, Maytas was in the race.

NHAI also received bids from three bidders (Reliance, Soma Enterprises-Isolux Corsan and GMR) for another project 6-laning of Krishnagiri-Walahjpet section. A top NHAI official declined to comment on the project winner.

“We have received bids for three projects today. The bids have to be studied and a final decision will be taken after the Board approval,” he said.

A few days ago, NHAI had received bids for three more projects 4-laning of MP/Maharashtra border-Dhule; 6-laning of Pimpalgaon-Nasik-Gonde and widening Kishangarh-Ajmer-Beawar section.

For 4-laning of MP/Maharashtra border-Dhule, consortia in race were L&T-Ashoka Buildcon, Maytas-Nagarjuna Construction, HCC-John Laing, and Isolux Corsan-Soma Enterprises. HCC-John Laing consortium is expected to be the winner.

For 6-laning of Pimpalgaon-Nasik-Gonde section, L&T-Ashoka Buildcon, HCC-John Laing, and Isolux Corsan-Soma Enterprises were in race. The bid winner is likely to be L&T-Ashoka Buildcon consortium.

For widening of Kishangarh-Ajmer-Beawar section, Maytas-China Railway 18th Bureau Group, HCC-John Laing, Navinya (a Tata Group company)-Atlantia SpA and Isolux Corsan-Soma Enterprises were the bidders, it is learnt. Navinya-Atlantia SpA consortium is likely to bag the project, say industry sources.