Gayatri Projects (GPL) has sought for time extension for Varanasi-Sultanpur four-laning project in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
GPL was declared non-performer by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and prohibited from participating in the ongoing and future bids for road projects till defects and deficiencies in one of the GPL's projects were rectified.
The company informed that NHAI officials had found some deficiencies in the Varanasi-Sultanpur four-laning project, where GPL is one of the contractors.
The above project was awarded in January 2016. Out of the total 138 km section, four-laning has been completed for 129 km, almost 93 percent of the project. The project has been beset by continued delay in handing over of the land by NHAI.
In addition, the land handover has been done in bits and pieces, resulting in overall project delay. Apart from the pending land handover, certain works have been halted due to pending approvals and payments to be released by NHAI.
The company has requested for extension of completion time till October 2021in anticipation of handing over of balance land and clearing of all pending approvals and payments.
The approval of extension of time is under active consideration at NHAI.