New Delhi : The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started the process of developing wayside amenities at land acquired at 183 locations along national highways. NHAI calls for participation of private players in developing these amenities.
NHAI will be developing this amenities under the brand name ‘Highway Village’ and facilities on smaller area less than 5 acres will be developed with brand name ‘Highway Nest’. The amenities will provide rest and refreshment for highway commuters during their journey. There would be parking for cars, buses and trucks, restaurant/food court, dhaba, fuel station, minor repair shop, rest rooms for passengers, dormitories for drivers, kiosks for sale of miscellaneous sundry items etc at these sites. Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari unveiled the logo for ‘Highway Village’ and ‘Highway Nest’.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari informed that the ministry plans to develop a network of amenities at every 50 km distance on the national highways. So more than 1,000 such amenities would need to be developed across the country.
He further informed that out of the 183 sites available with NHAI, bids have already been invited for 34 sites. The due date of receipt of bids for these sites is August 21, 2017 and September 27, 2017. He said NHAI is also in the process of inviting bids for 30 more sites by the end of August 2017, and for the remaining sites by end of September 2017.
NHAI has called for private participation on franchise basis. Private land owners/ persons having minimum land area of more than 1 hectare abutting the national highways can join hands with NHAI under the brand name ‘Highway Nest’ to develop wayside amenities as a franchise of the authority. The persons will develop the facilities as per standard layouts and designs of NHAI.
The private entity will be assisted in getting free access permission to the facility, assistance in land use conversion etc. along with co-branding, logo and signage, and will be required to sign a service level agreement with NHAI. Gadkari called on individuals owning land along national highways to come forward and participate in the endeavour. The Minister said that these wayside amenities would not only benefit the highway commuters, but also the local population. The sites will promote local handloom and handicrafts by having shops selling these items. Local cuisine can be made available at the eateries in these sites. Green plantations at the sites can be developed with the help of the local people.
Chairman of NHAI, Deepak Kumar said that expression of interest from persons having land parcel more than 1 Ha. abutting national highways for development of wayside amenities is being invited by NHAI on August 4, 2017 onwards with due date of receipt of the bids on September 21, 2017 in the office of the respective regional offices.
The document is being uploaded on NHAI website and e-tender portal and the same can be downloaded by the interested applicants and may be submitted in the office of the concerned regional officer of NHAI of the concerned state by September 20, 2017. However, any suggestions/ queries may be communicated by August 30, 2017 to the officials of NHAI. The pre-bid meeting with the interested applicants has been scheduled on August 31, 2017.
Secretary of road transport and highways, Y S Malik said that the development of the wayside amenities would go a long way in making highway travel convenient for people. He said these wayside amenities will henceforth form an integral part of highways.
