Question : AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR FOUR LANING OF NH A

(a) whether Tatia Constructions has been awarded the contract for four laning of NH-28A from Piprakothi to Raxal whereas the said company has been blacklisted by the Bihar Government for various reasons;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the grounds on which this construction company has been awarded the contract for four laning (widening) of the said road;

(c) the time by which the construction of the said road is likely to be completed; and

(d) the reaction of the Government in regard to the tie up of the said construction company with a Chinese company?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a) & (b) Project of Piprakothi to Raxal section of NH-28A has not been awarded so far. However M/s Tantia Construction – Jiangsu Consortium have submitted the single bid for this project, which is financially justified. The clearance from the Ministry of Home affairs for award of the project to the above consortium has been requested by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), as one of the partners is a Chinese company.

As regards the black listing of M/s Tantia Construction is concerned, it is mentioned that the order of blacklisting issued by the State Government Bihar has been stayed vide decision of the Hon’ble High Court of Kolkata dated 16.9.2008. The stay order is still in force.

(c) After the signing of the concession agreement, the appointed date for start of project is fixed generally after six months. The construction period for completion for the project is kept as two and half years.

(d) There is no embargo for a Chinese company to participate in the bid for NHAI project either solely or in joint venture with Indian Company. However, NHAI is required to seek clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs before awarding the work to a Chinese company participating in the bid either solely or in joint venture.