City
Epaper

Govt proposes investor-friendly changes in MCA for highways

By IANS | Updated: January 8, 2020 21:50 IST

Seeking to revive private investment in the roads sector, the Centre has proposed investor-friendly changes in the model concession agreement (MCA) for Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) highway projects.

Open in App

The changes are aimed at putting in place a progressive dispute resolution mechanism, mutual foreclosure agreement and harmonious substitution of the concessionaire.

Industry experts termed the proposed amendments in the MCA as incremental which will help the highways sector but may not give immediate push to BOT (Toll) projects.

"These are incremental changes. It has to be followed in letter and spirit," said Sandeep Upadhyay, MD & CEO, Centrum Infrastructure Advisory.

He added that the availability of credit was a much bigger issue for the sector and revival of BOT (Toll) projects may take upto nine months.

Apex highways development agency National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited suggestions from various stakeholders such as bankers, contractors, consultants and industry bodies on the proposed amendment.

"The amendments have been proposed after deliberations with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Niti Aayog," the NHAI said in a statement.

The major modifications proposed in the MCA are related to capping of liabilities of either party throughout the subsistence of the agreement, tightening of conditions precedent prior to declaration of appointed date and dispute resolution.

The central road building agency and regulator said that the move will ensure to draw a fine line of functional balance of Public Private Partnership (PPP) for development of highway infrastructure in the country.

The private sector interest in the road sector has been tepid forcing the government to substantially scale up public spending.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: MCABOTNhai
Open in App

Related Stories

NagpurNagpur: Rs 998-Crore Indora-Dighori Flyover Runs Through House Balcony at Ashok Square (Watch)

NationalArmy Soldier Assaulted by Employees at Bhuni Toll Plaza in Meerut; NHAI Initiates License Cancellation, Slaps Rs 20 Lakh Fine (VIDEO)

NationalAhmedabad Demolition: Four Dargahs, One Temple Demolished in Sarkhej Amid Heavy Police Deployment

CricketPrithvi Shaw Gets NOC from MCA to Play for Another State in Domestic Cricket: Report

CricketPrithvi Shaw Writes to MCA, Seeks Approval to Exit Mumbai Team: Reports

कारोबार Realted Stories

BusinessZaveri Bros Expands South Indian Legacy with Launch of Bengaluru Boutique; Mysore Princesses Unveil New 'Hearts & Arrows' Collection

BusinessKarnataka's rise as technological powerhouse not accidental: CM Siddaramaiah

BusinessIndia re-elected to Codex Executive Committee, reaffirms collaborative global food governance

BusinessQuantum CorpHealth (Quantum) Sets Sights on 300 ALS Ambulances to Transform India's Emergency Healthcare, Through Doctor911

Business"Future of Nudge Theory in the Smartphone Era" Highlighted at DU's Memorial Lecture for Cheistha Kochhar