NHAI likely to seek powers to change MCA bidding documents
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is expected to put forth a request before the new Central Government to frame requisite policies which align the bid process with the needs of the projects.
The request which the NHAI is likely to make to the new Government will largely have to do with the agency getting the power to make changes to the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) bidding documents, so as to ensure that the documents sync with the requirements of projects which need to be awarded and other economic considerations.
NHAI’s request to the new Government, seeking power to change the MCA bidding documents, is chiefly rooted in the fact that the agency’s performance in terms of project awards has been quite disappointing in the last two years, and a number of projects awarded earlier have failed to take off.
Giving the fact that the NHAI is presently awarding projects on the basis of a standard MCA document under which rules for award of road projects have been defined, the changes which the NHAI is seeking in the document will necessitate approval from the inter-ministerial group, as well as the Union Cabinet in some cases.
NHAI’s proposal for change in MCA documents has apparently been sent to the Road Transport Ministry, and will probably be discussed – as part of the changes required for the revival of the road sector – in a meeting with the new Prime Minister next week.
Source: The Indian Express
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