Sudhmahadev–Dranga Twin Tube Tunnels and Approach Roads Construction

Publication / NIT date

RFP/NIT invitation dated 31.08.2026; documents viewable/downloadable on CPPP from 31.08.2026.

• Package no. NHIDCL/J&K/NH-244/S-DTunnel/2020-21 (RFP also shows /182693).
• Last date of Request for BID Document per Datasheet: 15.10.2026 up to 1100 Hrs; NIT also states download till 15.10.2026 upto 1500 Hrs IST.

Pre-bid / clarification deadlines

Last date for receiving queries 25.09.2026, 1100 Hrs; Pre-BID meeting 25.09.2026, 1500 Hrs; Authority response to queries latest by 30.09.2026.

• Clarifications under Cl. 2.8.1 are to be sent by e-mail; Authority to respond no later than 15 days prior to BID Due Date; queries/responses hosted on e-procurement portal.

Bid submission deadline (online)

Datasheet sets BID Due Date as 15.10.2026 up to 1100 Hrs; NIT/RFP Notice instead say online Technical and Financial Bids by 16.10.2026 (upto 1100 hours IST) — see contradictions.

• Portal: https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app; online only with digital signature of authorised representative.
• NIT download window ends 15.10.2026 while NIT submission text points to 16.10.2026.

Physical originals deadline

Physical Bid Security/fee instruments and related originals due by 11:00 hrs IST on Bid Opening Date (16.10.2026 per NIT/Datasheet opening).

• NIT: Bid Security, document fee, Power of Attorney and Joint Bidding Agreement etc. physically on or before 16.10.2026 (at 1100 hours IST).
• Datasheet item 7: Physical Submission of Bid Documents/POA etc. Upto 11:00 hrs. IST on BID Opening Date — Only DD, Cheque, ISB etc. for Bid Security.
• Cl. 2.11.2 originals before LOA also required for selected/lowest bidder documents listed therein.

Bid opening

Technical BIDs open online on 16.10.2026 after/at 1100 hrs IST; only bidders whose Cl. 2.11.2 physical documents are received are opened.

• NIT: Bids received online shall be opened on 16.10.2026 (at 1100 hours IST).
• Datasheet: Opening of Technical BIDs 16.10.2026 after 1100 hrs.
• Declaration of qualified bidders, financial opening, LOA dates to be hosted on e-tendering portal.

Bid validity

BIDs valid for not less than 120 days from BID Due Date; extendable by mutual consent.

• Datasheet item 13: Validity of BID [120 days from BID Due Date].

Post-award timelines

Performance Security (and APS if any): within 30 days of LOA (option of 50% within 30 days of LOA and balance within 30 days of signing); Agreement within 10 days of receipt of 50% PS/APS.

• DCA recital also requires consent within 10 days of LOA and execution within 30 days of LOA (aligns with PS timing path).

Estimated project cost

Estimated Cost exclusive of GST: Rs. 2765.71 Crore.

• BOQ is a single lump-sum EPC item for the named work (bidder quotes rate).

Tender / RFP document fee

Cost of BID/RFP document: Rs. 3,30,400/-; mandatory online via Tender Pro portal only (no direct deposit to NHIDCL account for tender fee).

• Footnote: GST @18% must be added in Bid/RFP document cost in the general fee formula note.
• Copy of payment receipt must be submitted with bid.
• Tender Pro portal link: https://nhidclindusindbank.gerpegov.com

Bid Security (EMD)

Bid Security Rs. 27.66 Cr; validity not less than 180 days from BID Due Date inclusive of 60-day claim period.

• Acceptable forms (Cl. 2.20.1): Insurance Surety Bond (IRDAI authorised insurer), Account Payee Demand Draft, Banker's Cheque, or e-Bank Guarantee from nationalised/Scheduled Bank in India with net worth at least Rs. 1,000 crore, in favour of Authority; also online via Tender Pro portal.
• e-BG via SFMS to NHIDCL bank; foreign bank e-BG needs confirmation by any nationalised bank in India.
• Scanned instrument to be uploaded; any BID without BID Security summarily rejected.
• Selected Bidder's BID Security returned without interest on signing Agreement and furnishing Performance Security; may be adjusted against PS at bidder's option.
• Forfeiture triggers include corrupt practices, withdrawal during validity, and Selected Bidder failure to return LOA / furnish PS-APS / sign Agreement (Cl. 2.20.5).

Performance Security & Additional Performance Security

Performance Security equal to 3% of Bid Price; Additional PS applies for abnormally low bids; PS valid until 60 days after Defects Liability Period; APS valid until 28 days after Project Completion Date; claim period one year beyond validity.

• Forms: Insurance Surety Bond / DD / Banker's Cheque / irrevocable unconditional e-BG (RFP Cl. 2.21.1; DCA Cl. 7.1).
• Low-bid APS: if bid 10%-below but not 20%-below EPC, APS increments 0.1% per % below 10% starting at 11%; if 20% or more below, increments 0.2% per % below 20% plus 1% of bid price, applied on bid price.
• 50%/50% submission option; delay damages 0.01% of Bid Price per day for remaining PS/APS up to 60 extra days, else award cancelled and Bid Security encashed.
• Release: PS within 60 days of expiry of Maintenance Period or DLP whichever later; APS within 28 days of Completion Certificate; delay interest 9% p.a. on late return (DCA 7.4).

Retention Money

6% deducted from every Works payment as Retention Money, capped at 5% of Contract Price; balance refunded within 15 days of Completion Certificate (after adjustments).

• On Termination, Retention Money treated as Performance Security for Termination Payment purposes.

Contract Price, GST and key payment terms

Lump-sum Contract Price excludes GST and Maintenance cost (paid separately); interest-bearing mobilisation advance 10% of Contract Price at Bank Rate+3%; stage payments with price adjustment; Authority payment within 30 days of Stage Payment Statement.

• Mobilisation advance in two 5% instalments; second after utilisation certificate for first 5%.
• Additional plant/machinery advance up to 5% of Contract Price against BG/ISB.
• Advance repaid by 15% deduction from each Stage Payment; fully repaid before 80% of Scheduled Construction Period elapses.
• On Authority payment delay: interest @ Bank Rate+3% p.a.
• 50% of last milestone payment paid during each year of DLP equally after satisfactory maintenance certificate (DCA 17.1).
• NIT maintenance period 120 months; completion 48 months.

Bid Capacity

Available BID capacity must exceed total BID value (Cl. 1.1.1); formula Assessed Available BID capacity = (A*N*2.5 – B + C).

• N = years prescribed for completion; A = max one-year civil EPC works value in last 5 years (updated); B = existing commitments/ongoing works during completion period (incl. won-but-LOA-not-issued as of day before financial opening); C = bonus in last 5 years.
• Commitments statement countersigned by Client/EIC ≥ EE rank (or Concessionaire/SPV for BOT) and verified by Statutory Auditor; false/missing info → debarment 1 year from NHIDCL bids.
• Bid capacity status updated as on day before opening financial bids.

Technical Capacity – threshold and similar works

Threshold Technical Capacity Rs. 1000 Crore over past 5 financial years preceding Bid Due Date (standalone specialised tunnel rules apply); plus similar completed works and tunnel-specific experience.

• Datasheet flags project as Tunnel; cross-sectional area of proposed tunnel 67.66 sqm; also lists longest span Major Bridge/ROB/Flyover/Viaduct 312 m and length of longest bridge 456 m under similar-work data.
• Similar completed works (normal highway incl. tunnels): either two works ≥25% of estimated cost each, or one work ≥35% of estimated cost, from Category 1 and/or 3; ≥90% value completed counts as completed.
• Standalone tunnel (Cl. 2.2.2.2(iii)(b)): sole bidder or JV Lead Member must have completed at least one tunnel project in last 7 financial years preceding Bid Due Date/till Bid Due Date with ≥80% cross-sectional area of tunnel to be constructed other than Cut & Cover (or 2-lane highway tunnel CSA, whichever less) and 40% length of tunnel in this project or 2 km, whichever less; and cost at least two works ≥25% each of estimated cost of tunnel OR one work ≥35% of estimated cost of tunnel.
• Eligible receipts/work executed below Rs. 276.57 crore not reckoned for Experience Score.
• OECD developed-country experience further multiplied by 0.5.

Financial Capacity

Minimum Net Worth Rs. 276.57 crore at close of preceding financial year; minimum Average Annual Turnover (updated) Rs. 553.14 crore for last 5 financial years.

• Financial years for updation (Datasheet): Year-1 FY 2025-26 factor 1.00; Year-2 FY 2024-25 1.05; Year-3 FY 2023-24 1.10; Year-4 FY 2022-23 1.15; Year-5 FY 2021-22 1.20.
• If Bid Due Date falls within three months of closing of latest financial year, ignore that year and use preceding 5 years/1 year as applicable (Cl. 2.1.13).
• Net Worth definition per Cl. 2.2.2.9(ii); statutory auditor certificate required (Appendix-X format).

Joint Venture rules

Max 3 JV members; each member min 26% share; Lead meets ≥60% of Bid/Technical/Financial Capacity; each other member ≥20%; JV collectively 100%; Lead must itself perform ≥51% of total Project Highway length.

• JV Power of Attorney (Appendix-IV) and Joint Bidding Agreement (Appendix-V) required.
• All members jointly and severally liable until Defect Liability Period achieved.
• No JV up to Estimated Project Cost Rs. 100 crore (not applicable here as EPC >> 100 Cr).
• For similar work Cl. 2.2.2.2(ii)/(iii), experience from Category 1 and/or 3.

Debarment, non-performer and conflict restrictions

Bidder/JV members must not be non-performing parties on bid submission date; debarred/non-performer bids ignored; conflict of interest and land-border restrictions apply.

• Non-performing triggers include missed milestones, failure to mobilise key equipment within 4 months, failure to submit PS in more than one project, etc. (Cl. 2.1.14).
• Debarred/declared non-performer firm bids ignored; if L-1, next lowest considered; their Bid Security returned (Cl. 2.1.18).
• Conflict of Interest under Cl. 2.2.1(c)/2.6.4 → disqualification and BID Security/PS forfeiture.
• Land-border country bidders need Competent Authority registration (Order F.No.6/18/2019-PPD dated 23.07.2020) and Annexure-XIII certificate.
• Foreign shareholding ≥50% of L-1 subject to national security clearance (Cl. 2.1.12).
• Integrity Pact mandatory (Appendix-VI).
• Fraud/corrupt practice → 2-year ban from Authority tenders (Section 4).

Make in India / local content

Self-certification of Class-I/Class-II local supplier status with location of local value addition required; for procurement > Rs. 10 crore, statutory auditor/cost accountant certificate of local content percentage on construction.

• If certification missing in Technical Bid, opportunity during technical evaluation; failure → treated as Non-Local Supplier.

Work being procured

EPC design and construction of Uni-directional Sudhmahadev–Dranga Twin Tube Tunnels and approach roads on Chenani–Sudhmahadev–Goha section of NH-244 in UT of J&K, plus maintenance during Defect Liability/Maintenance Period.

• Mode: Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract.
• NIT maintenance period 120 months; RFP Cl. 1.1.2 states DLP 10 years; DCA 17.1(d) 10 years for stand-alone tunnels.
• BOQ: single lump-sum item for the full named scope.

Quantities, lengths and configuration

Design length 12.850 km including Tunnel-1 tubes 5.449/5.417 km and Tunnel-2 tubes 2.640/2.630 km; each tunnel tube ~9.57 m wide; 2-lane approaches with specified portal approach lengths and bridges/viaducts.

• Tunnel-1 western portal elev. 1719 m; eastern 1635 m; Tunnel-2 western 1585 m; eastern 1500 m (coordinates in Schedule-B).
• Approach roads: e.g. 50 m uni-directional 2-lane to Tunnel-1 western portal; interconnecting approaches ~1270–1280 m with bridges/viaducts; eastern Tunnel-2 approaches 540 m / 610 m; approach from km 9.950–12.850 = 2900 m including bridges & viaducts.
• Junction/rotary at western portal (km 0.000) and junction development at km 16.250 on existing Chenani-Sudhmahadev Road.
• Paved carriageway 2-lane for Sudhmahadev-Daranga section including existing Chenani-Sudhmahadev road; approaches connecting rotary and tunnel 4-lane configuration.
• Proposed tunnel cross-section area 67.66 sqm (Datasheet).
• Design speed min 40 km/h mountainous/hilly (IRC:SP:73-2018).

Location and site handover

Site on NH-244 in UT of Jammu & Kashmir; ROW stretches from design km 0.000 to 12.850 with stated widths; 90% full ROW available on Appointed Date; no ROW date beyond 150 days after Appointed Date.

• Schedule-A Annex-I text also cites Ex. Ch. 140+870 to 235+070 and wrongly names Singhpora-Vailoo Twin Tube Tunnel (Under Sinthan pass) — conflicts with project title (see contradictions).
• Environmental Clearance stated as exempted under EIA notification 2006 and amendments listed in Annex-IV of Schedule-A.
• Up to 15 muck dumping sites identified (~1601 Kanal / 809865.85 sq.m total); contractor responsible for suitability, extra sites, and local permissions (Forest/Wildlife/Civil).

Completion schedule and standards

Construction Period 48 months / Scheduled Completion on 1460th day from Appointed Date (DCA also states 1461st day); milestones at days 510/875/1240 for 10%/35%/70% stage payments; method TBM/Drill & Blast/NATM at Contractor choice with NHIDCL/AE approval.

• Milestone-I: day 510, ≥10% Contract Price stage statements; Milestone-II day 875 ≥35% and started all bridges; Milestone-III day 1240 ≥70% and started all project facilities.
• Lighting per CIE 88:2004 and IRC:SP:91-2019; tunnel safety systems (CCTV, VMS, fire detection etc.) per contractor design/IRC SP.
• Specifications per Schedule-D Annex-I & Attachment-D1; dry drained tunnel with waterproofing membrane.

Online submission mode and portal

Technical and Financial BIDs only via CPPP e-procurement portal https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app using digital signature of authorised representative; other modes not entertained.

• Files PDF/RAR, each ≤30 MB (Cl. 2.14.2.2).
• Bidder must be registered on e-tendering portal; BIDs only during valid registration.
• Modification before Due Date by detaching old bid and uploading digitally signed modified bid; after withdrawal cannot re-submit.

Physical envelope of originals

Cl. 2.11.2 originals in sealed envelope marked with work title, bidder name/address and BID Due Date on top-right; addressed to officer in Datasheet; fax/telex/telegram/e-mail bids rejected.

• Technical BID opened only if physical Cl. 2.11.2 documents received (Cl. 2.15.2).
• NIT requires physical Bid Security, document fee, PoA, JBA etc. by opening-time deadline.
• Lowest Bidder must also furnish listed originals before LOA (Cl. 2.11.2).

Signing and language

BID in English; formats exactly as Appendix-I; authorised signatory signs; no conditions/qualifications allowed or BID non-responsive.

• International bidder PoA to be apostilled and Indian Stamp Act fulfilled (Cl. 2.1.2).
• Financial amount in figures and words; words prevail on difference.

No corrigendum / addendum on record

The tender document set contains no corrigendum or addendum files; original NIT/RFP/DCA/Schedules/BOQ values apply as issued.

• Documents present: Tendernotice_1.pdf, RFP.pdf, DCA.pdf, Schedules.pdf, BOQ_971205.xls only.
• Final applying values are those in the base documents, subject to internal conflicts listed under contradictions.

BID Due Date: 15.10.2026 vs 16.10.2026

Datasheet states BID Due Date 15.10.2026 up to 1100 Hrs, while NIT and RFP Notice require online submission on or before 16.10.2026 (upto 1100 hours IST).

• Opening is consistently 16.10.2026 (at/after 1100 hrs).
• Cl. 2.14.2.3 says deadline is as mentioned in Datasheet; NIT is the published invitation — bidders should seek written clarification before relying on either date.
• Physical submission tied to Bid Opening Date 11:00 IST in Datasheet and to 16.10.2026 1100 in NIT.

Scheduled Completion Date day count 1460 vs 1461

Schedule-J sets Scheduled Completion Date on the 1460th day from Appointed Date; DCA Cl. 10.3(i) states the 1461st day; NIT states 48 months.

• Milestone schedule in Schedule-J uses 510 / 875 / 1240 / 1460 day framework.
• Bidder should seek confirmation which day-count governs LD milestones.

Wrong project identity in Schedule-A Site description

Schedule-A Annex-I describes 'Uni-Directional Singhpora - Vailoo Twin Tube Tunnel (Under Sinthan pass)' on Ex. Ch. 140+870 to 235+070, while all other documents name Sudhmahadev–Dranga tunnels on Chenani–Sudhmahadev–Goha.

• Schedule-B Annex-I correctly describes Sudhmahadev–Dranga design length 12.850 km with tunnel lengths — treat Schedule-B/NIT/RFP title as the project identity and seek correction of Schedule-A boilerplate.
• Land/ROW table in Schedule-A Annex-I also shows 'Nil' while Annex-II lists detailed ROW stretches 0.000–12.850.

Insurance Surety Bond format cross-reference vs actual appendices

Several clauses point Bid Security/Performance Security Insurance Surety Bond formats to Appendix-X, but Appendix-X is the Statutory Auditor Net Worth certificate; BG formats are Appendix-II (Bid Security) and Appendix-VII (Performance Security).

• Cl. 2.20.1 says ISB for Bid Security in format at Appendix II (same clause also used for BG).
• Cl. 2.11.2(g) and Cl. 2.21.1 cite Appendix-X for ISB — inconsistent with printed Appendix-X title.
• Bidders should confirm correct ISB proforma with Authority before issuance.

Document download end-time 1100 vs 1500 Hrs on 15.10.2026

NIT allows viewing/download till 15.10.2026 upto 1500 Hrs IST; Datasheet last date of Request for BID Document is 15.10.2026 up to 1100 Hrs.

Confirm controlling BID Due Date and physical submission cut-off

Ask Authority to confirm whether online BID Due Date is 15.10.2026 1100 Hrs (Datasheet) or 16.10.2026 1100 Hrs (NIT/RFP Notice), and exact physical originals deadline.

• Material to bid/no-bid logistics and late-bid rejection risk under Cl. 2.13/2.15.2.

Correct project description and chainages in Schedule-A

Request replacement of Singhpora–Vailoo/Sinthan Pass Schedule-A text and Nil land table with Sudhmahadev–Dranga site particulars consistent with Schedule-B.

• Also confirm whether Ex. Ch. 140+870–235+070 has any residual relevance or is pure boilerplate error.

Tunnel similar-work thresholds against actual tunnel cost share

Seek clarification of 'estimated cost of the tunnel' used for 25%/35% similar-work tests versus full EPC Rs. 2765.71 Cr, and whether both Tunnel-1 and Tunnel-2 lengths aggregate for the 40% length / 2 km test.

• Datasheet gives CSA 67.66 sqm but not split civil cost of tunnels vs approaches/bridges.
• Also confirm how longest bridge span 312 m / length 456 m data interacts with a tunnel-led project.

Correct Insurance Surety Bond proforma reference

Confirm which appendix/format must be used for Bid Security and Performance Security Insurance Surety Bonds given Appendix-X is Net Worth certificate.

• Critical to avoid non-responsive security instruments.

Geotechnical baseline, construction method constraints and muck disposal permissions

Request geotechnical baseline / GIR status, any restriction on TBM vs D&B/NATM, and status of forest/wildlife clearances for the 15 identified muck sites.

• Contractor bears suitability of muck sites and local permissions; pricing risk is high in Himalayan twin-tube work.
• EC stated exempted — confirm no other pending clearances that shift Contractor risk.

Which completion day-count governs LD (1460 vs 1461 / 48 months)

Ask which Scheduled Completion Date prevails for Damages under Cl. 10.3(ii) and Schedule-J milestones.

Heavy liquidated damages on milestones

Failure to achieve any Project Milestone or Scheduled Completion Date within 30 days of Schedule-J date attracts Damages at 0.05% of Contract Price per day until achieved (Force Majeure/Authority default excepted).

• Damages refundable without interest if project ultimately completed by extended Scheduled Completion Date.
• Recovery without prejudice to Termination rights.
• On Rs. 2765.71 Cr order-of-magnitude Contract Price, daily LD is commercially severe.

Long 10-year DLP / 120-month maintenance with security lock-up

Tunnel DLP 10 years from Completion Certificate; Performance Security remains until 60 days after DLP/Maintenance Period; 50% of last milestone paid only year-wise across DLP.

• Defect rectification in 15 days or Authority rectifies at Contractor cost + 20% Damages.
• NIT maintenance period 120 months aligns with 10-year DLP for tunnels.

Large Bid Security and low-bid Additional Performance Security

EMD Rs. 27.66 Cr with 180-day instrument; PS 3% of Bid Price; aggressive under-bidding triggers escalating Additional PS and forfeiture if PS not completed.

• Failure to furnish remaining PS/APS after LOA: 0.01%/day damages up to 60 days then award cancelled and Bid Security encashed.
• Many forfeiture events during bidding (withdrawal, integrity breach, LOA/Agreement defaults).

Site, geological and muck-disposal execution risk

Himalayan twin-tube tunnels (~8+ km tube length aggregate) with contractor choice of method; muck site suitability and local permissions are Contractor responsibility; ROW only 90% on Appointed Date and balance within 150 days.

• Unforeseeable difficulties generally do not adjust Contract Price or Scheduled Completion Date (DCA sufficiency clauses).
• Schedule-A identity/land-table defects add interface uncertainty until clarified.
• Deemed termination if Appointed Date conditions not met within 90 days of signing and full PS — Authority pays 1% Contract Price damages (3% for standalone bridge projects).

Payment and cash-flow structure

Stage-payment EPC with 6% retention (cap 5%); interest-bearing advances; last-milestone cash deferred across 10-year DLP; GST paid separately from Contract Price.

• Mobilisation advance Bank Rate+3%; on Contractor-default termination, advance deemed Bank Rate+5%.
• Authority payment target 30 days from Stage Payment Statement; delay interest Bank Rate+3%.
• Price adjustment available under Cl. 19.10 formulae but restricted per Cl. 19.11.

One-sided bidding and integrity risks

Authority may reject any/all BIDs without assigning reasons; conditioned BIDs rejected; Integrity Pact and fraud regime allow BID Security appropriation and 2-year tender ban.

• No more than one BID per bidder/JV member (Cl. 2.1.1).
• Draft Agreement terms override RFP explanations; omissions/conflicts to be applied to give effect to Authority intent with no claims (Cl. 2.1.3).

Inviting authority / Officer In-charge

NHIDCL — Sh. Ashish Gupta, Dy. General Manager (Tech); physical submissions and correspondence to New Delhi WTC address below.

• Organisation: National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India.
• Address: 1st Floor, Tower-A, World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi-110029.
• Phone: +91-11-26768950
• Email: [email protected]
• Pre-bid queries title format per Cl. 1.2.9 to the designated officer email.
• IEM contact details: see NHIDCL website (Integrity Pact SOP).
• e-BG SFMS beneficiary bank details (for instruments, not contact): MD-NHIDCL, A/c 90621010002659, Canara Bank Transport Bhawan, IFSC CNRB0019062 — tender fee must NOT be deposited directly here.