Ashoka Buildcon (ABL) reported 4% y-o-y contraction in Q4FY20 revenue as COVID-19 adversely impacted execution. Ebitda margin surged 440bps y-o-y to 18.2% aided by one-offs; consequently, adjusted profit rose 56% y-o-y. Toll revenue remained weak with traffic declining y-o-y across all projects. Order book fell to ~ Rs 90 bn (book-to-bill of 2.4x). Incremental order […]
Category: Roads
Pure PPP projects in highways seem to attract interest again
The highway sector seems to witness investor interest in pure public-private-partnership (PPP) projects, the share of which in new awards has declined precipitously for nearly a decade and drawn a blank in the last two financial years. At least five firms — IRB Infrastructure, Ashoka Buildcon, Adani Road Transport, Oriental Structural Engineers and PNC Infratech […]
Now, smaller highway assets too on offer under TOT model
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will now offer smaller bundles of operational assets worth Rs 500 crore and above, under its asset monetisation programme through the toll-operate-transfer (TOT) model. Talking to members of the industry body Assocham, minister for road transport and highways and MSME Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday that the proposal […]
Revenue, profitability to take hit due to COVID-19, ops at standstill: SPML Infra
SPML Infra on Monday said the COVID-19 pandemic has hit its operations hard, and revenue and profitability are likely to be adversely impacted as all projects have come to a standstill. The infrastructure firm said normalisation of operations will take time as it is also facing shortage of labour. “April-June 2020 being lockdown months, the […]
Going PPP way: BharatNet project to get a private sector connection
The department of telecommunications (DoT) is soon going to invite the private sector in implementing the BharatNet project, which has already seen several delays and cost escalation. Through the project, originally conceived in 2011, the government wants to provide high-speed broadband connectivity through optic fibre to all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in the country. Due […]
Edelweiss Infrastructure acquires two road assets of Navayuga Group
Edelweiss Alternative Asset Advisors on Sunday said its alternate investment fund, Edelweiss Infrastructure Yield Plus, along with Sekura Roads has acquired two road assets of Vishakhapatnam headquartered Navayuga Group. It, however, did not disclose the acquisition amount. The fund has acquired two road assets including Navayuga Dhola Infra Projects in Assam and Navayuga Dibang Infra […]
Purvanchal Expressway: 10 things to know about India’s longest expressway project in Uttar Pradesh
Purvanchal Expressway: India’s longest expressway – the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh is likely to be completed by the end of the year! After a delay of almost two months due to the COVID-19 induced nationwide lockdown, hectic efforts are underway to complete the expressway project by this year-end, months ahead of the official deadline […]
UP amends revenue code, simplifies land acquisition process to expand land bank for industries
In order to make it lucrative for fresh overseas investments into the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken several decisions to enhance its land bank. It has amended the Revenue Code and also decided to simplify the process of land acquisition within a distance of one kilometre on both sides of the expressways under […]
‘NHAI capable of raising requisite funds from market’
The total debt of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) went up by nearly 9.5 times to Rs 2,28,252 crore in February this year, from Rs 24,188 crore as on March 31, 2015. There are concerns that debt repayment, pay-out money involved in arbitration, higher levels of construction and cost thereon might aggravate its […]
Road To Revival! Liquidity boost to create jobs, pep up demand: Nitin Gadkari
Minister for MSMEs and road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the recent steps announced by the government to boost liquidity and credit flows would also bolster “the purchasing power of the people via employment creation and help accelerate the wheels of the economy”. The minister’s comments came at a time when there […]
NHAI defers plan to generate funds by leasing off its assets
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has put its plan to monetise operational publicly-funded highway projects on hold for two months, given that investors might not commit long-term investments at this juncture, due to uncertainty over toll collections. This implies that the authority, which is facing funding constraints amid a prolonged sluggishness in private […]
Rohtang Tunnel: Amid lockdown, work on strategic tunnel resumes to ensure its completion in September; details
Rohtang Tunnel Project update: Despite the ongoing nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the work on the strategic Rohtang Tunnel resumes! After being halted for a duration of 10 days, the development work on the strategic Rohtang Tunnel is now underway. In a bid to complete the construction work as per the schedule, the […]