Government approves model document for construction of highways

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to minimise time and cost overruns in road projects, the government today approved a model document for construction of highways in the country.

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved the Model Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Agreement Document for construction of 2-lane National Highways Works, an official statement said.

The EPC document has been structured in a manner that time overrun and cost overrun in implementation of National Highways works shall be minimised to a great extent and there will be optimisation of design and quality construction.

All the National Highways works which are not done on PPP (public-private partnership) mode would be undertaken primarily through the EPC mode, the statement said.

The EGoM (Empowered Group of Ministers) in February, this year, mandated that EPC document after finalisation through inter-Ministerial consultations could be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure for consideration.

Several rounds of discussion took place with various stake holders including Planning Commission, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highways Authority of India, State Governments, contractors and international agencies to finalise the draft EPC Agreement Document.

Based on deliberations and decisions at these meetings, the EPC document has been fine tuned by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.