The Centre’s plans to re-bid stalled highway projects may hit a roadblock as banks are reluctant to finance these contracts again, fearing non-performing assets (NPAs) on their books.
According to a source privy to the development, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are facing hurdles in arranging debt for at least half of the 10 “chronic” highway contracts.
More than Rs 8,600 crore worth of national highway projects turned “chronic” primarily due to issues relating to land acquisition, which impaired construction work. Some experts said these projects were severely impacted by environment and forest