Govt to compensate infra developers for project delays

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday unveiled two key policy initiatives to revive the infrastructure sector, which include compensating developers in case of delays in highway projects and empowering the ministry concerned to okay projects with civil construction cost of up to Rs 1,000 crore.

The decisions, which will benefit at least 34 key highway projects, were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today.

These follow recent decisions like allowing developers to divest 100 percent equity in projects two years after the completion of such schemes to unlock investments worth about Rs 4,500 crore in the sector.

"The Cabinet has taken a very bold decision to allow the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to go into the merit of each case and wherever the delays are not attributable to the developer, extend the tolling period," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said while interacting with the media.

Goyal expressed hope that the decision will fast-track highway projects.

"CCEA has given its approval for authorising the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to allow extension of concession period for all current projects in BOT (toll) mode that are languishing during the construction period due to causes not attributable to the concessionaire," an official statement read.

It said such permission will be subject to condition that the tenure of the operation as laid down originally in the concession agreement will remain unchanged and the decision on eligibility of projects for extension of the concession period may be taken by NHAI on a case to case basis.

The statement said NHAI will be authorised to pay compensatory annuities to the concessionaire corresponding to the actual period of delay not attributable to the concessionaire upon successful completion of the project.

The number of annuities payable, including compensation, will be capped.