The decade-old Vijayawada-Machilipatnam four-lane project is unlikely to be a reality this year too. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is yet to complete documentation, inviting tenders etc for taking up the project under the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) mode. The process is expected to be completed by year end, sources say.
“The works are unlikely to commence before end of this year. The authority has also not fixed any deadline so far,” said a senior official, who did not want to be quoted.
It is estimated that the four-laning project is likely to cost Rs. 800 crore to Rs. 900 crore as against the existing Build Own and Transfer (BOT) model. The 64-km four-laning project was estimated to cost Rs. 606 crore a couple of years ago. Then estimate was then based on the 2010-11 rates.
