Centre Takes Over Highway Bids, Clips State PWD Wings

State deptts to consult Union ministry's regional officers for national highway bids, arbitration

- Subhash Narayan

The Centre has withdrawn the powers of state PWDs (public works departments) and road construction departments (RCDs) to independently issue bid documents for national highway projects in their states, according to a directive by the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH).

Instead, they will now consult MoRTH's regional officers (ROs), who will evaluate all state-issued bids, recommend necessary changes, and actively participate in resolving legal disputes and arbitration related to national highway works, the directive said, a copy of which was seen by Mint.

The new process will be applicable to all highway projects, including those costing less than ₹100 crore but excluding maintenance works.

Further, ROs would need to be consulted at every step in the case of contractual disputes and arbitration. MoRTH is preparing a separate, detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for dealing with arbitration matters that will soon be issued.

Queries emailed to MoRTH remained unanswered till press time.