The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) will take a call on awarding the work to convert the 26.7-km stretch of the National Highway 66 bypass from Kazhakuttam to Mukkola into a four-lane carriageway by middle of this month.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the scrutiny of the technical and financial bids submitted by Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and Hyderabad-based KNR Constructions Ltd.
The scrutiny of the financial bid has found that Hyderabad firm has quoted the lowest rate for the work to be taken up under Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) contract. “The file is before the MORTH now and the ministry is to take a decision on the EPC contractor in 10 days”, official sources said.
Under the EPC mode, the Union government will bear the cost of development of 26.7 km and road-users will not have to pay any toll. The NHAI has fixed 24 months target for completing the first reach.
Encroachments
Meanwhile, the NHAI officials have initiated steps to get the utilities shifted from the road, encroachments removed, if any, and to get the trees planted in the service road of the bypass removed. The boundary stones will have also be laid to demarcate the 45-metre carriageway. The NHAI will issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) only after this, sources said.
The NHAI has received the estimate from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for shifting the utilities. The KSEB has given an estimate of Rs. 25 lakh and the KWA Rs. 33 crore for removing asbestos cement pipes that now carry water. In the case of the KSEB, the approved agency of the NHAI will remove the utilities and KSEB will get only supervisory charges.
The 43-km stretch (Kazhakuttam to Inchivila) is part of the 212-km NH-66 bypass project of the NHAI from Thuravur, the work on which started in 1974. The 22-km first phase from Kazhakuttam to Kovalam was made a two-lane stretch 15 years ago. But, the four-laning work is being carried out till Mukkola. The NHAI will invite another bid for awarding the work for the 16.3 km stretch from Mukkola to Inchivila once land acquisition is completed.
Road-users not to pay toll as Centre to bear cost
KSEB, KWA to shift utilities from bypass road
