In response to a significant increase in bitumen prices that is affecting road construction in the Capital amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Delhi government has modified the tendering process to provide support to contractors dealing with price volatility, announced Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Friday. The government has implemented Clause 10CC of the General Conditions of Contract (GCC), which allows for price adjustments to accommodate fluctuations in the cost of essential materials during the execution of road strengthening projects.<\/p>\n
Minister Singh noted that the ongoing road construction efforts are being disrupted due to supply chain challenges resulting from the war. He emphasized that bitumen is a critical material for road repairs and enhancements. \u201cAs the rise in bitumen prices has affected our road works, we have received requests from contractors and market analysts for assistance to ensure timely project completion. A meeting was convened to establish the terms and conditions to address these unforeseen price changes,\u201d he stated, adding, \u201cWe aim to prevent the public from facing the consequences of these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
The PWD had originally planned to complete 400 kilometers of road projects by March; however, due to the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, this deadline has now been extended to July 31. So far, 150 kilometers of the planned road work have been finished. Additionally, the PWD is targeting the completion of projects covering 600 kilometers in the Capital by the year’s end. The department oversees 1,400 kilometers of vital roadways, including flyovers, underpasses, and subways within the national capital.<\/p>\n
Officials indicate that Clause 10CC is already utilized by central agencies such as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). This clause allows contractors to receive compensation for changes in costs associated with labor, materials like cement, steel, and bitumen, fuel, and other necessary construction elements. This provision is designed to alleviate the financial burden of market fluctuations on contractors and to ensure that long-term infrastructure projects proceed without delays due to rising input costs.<\/p>\n
Minister Singh explained that Clause 10CC is typically included in NHAI contracts due to the scale of their projects, which often last two to three years. In contrast, PWD road repairs and strengthening efforts are generally completed within six to eight months. \u201cGiven the current circumstances and future projections, we have opted to group road repair and strengthening projects into larger packages rather than issuing multiple small tenders. We are now launching tenders for thirteen-month projects. This approach will help prevent project stoppages and provide some relief to contractors facing price fluctuations amid the ongoing conflict,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
According to an official, this adjustment in the tender process is expected to facilitate timely project completion while offering relief to contractors grappling with price variations. \u201cWe must adhere to the deadlines set for the monsoon and winter seasons. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be implemented in November due to the anticipated rise in pollution levels,\u201d the official remarked.<\/p>\n
A contractor expressed support for the government’s decision, stating, \u201cThis adjustment will ensure that work continues without interruption. Currently, operations are ongoing in areas where materials have been stockpiled. It will also help mitigate cost escalations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Repairing roads has been a primary focus for the BJP government and was a significant part of their campaign promises leading up to the Assembly elections in 2025.<\/p>\n
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In response to a significant increase in bitumen prices that is affecting road construction in the Capital amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Delhi government has modified the tendering process to provide support to contractors dealing with price volatility, announced Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Friday. The government has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7053,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[78,498,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-cities","category-in-delhi","category-india"],"yoast_head":"\n