New 4-Lane Highway with Paved Shoulder Construction Project: Dareota Village to Kalar Bala Village (NH-205, Himachal Pradesh) under HAM Model
Project Overview:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated a major infrastructure project to construct a 4-lane highway with paved shoulders along NH-205, spanning from Dareota Village (Design Chainage Km 33.175) to Kalar Bala Village (Km 41.000). The 7.825 km project includes construction of a twin-tube tunnel and is being executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).
Key Project Details:
- Total Project Cost: ₹607.09 Crores
- Completion Timeline: 2 Years
- Bid Submission Deadline: 12th June 2025
- Tender Reference: 2024 NHAI 2149531
- Financial Bid Opening: 23rd July 2025
Competitive Bidding Status:
The project has attracted bids from several major infrastructure companies, with significant variations in quoted prices:
- Ram Kumar Contractor Pvt Ltd: ₹435.00 Cr (-28.35% below NHAI estimate)
- SPS Construction India Pvt Ltd: ₹445.49 Cr (-26.62%)
- SRM Contractors Limited: ₹446.08 Cr (-26.52%)
- Jinfratech Limited: ₹453.79 Cr (-25.25%)
- Dilip Buildcon Limited: ₹456.45 Cr (-24.81%)
- Gawar Construction Limited: ₹458.99 Cr (-24.40%)
- CS Construction Company Pvt Ltd: ₹465.00 Cr (-23.41%)
- Bharat Constructions (India) Ltd: ₹497.00 Cr (-18.13%)
- ABCI Infrastructures Pvt Ltd: ₹522.00 Cr (-14.02%)
- HG Infra Engineering Limited: ₹538.11 Cr (-11.36%)
Project Significance:
This strategically important highway development will significantly enhance connectivity in the challenging terrain of Himachal Pradesh. The inclusion of twin-tube tunnel construction addresses critical safety and accessibility requirements in mountainous regions. The HAM model implementation ensures optimal risk distribution between NHAI and private contractors, while the competitive bidding process has resulted in substantial cost savings compared to original estimates.
Upon completion, this infrastructure project is expected to boost regional economic development, improve transportation efficiency, and enhance road safety standards in the area. The substantial participation from leading construction firms underscores the project’s importance in India’s national highway development program.