India Launches EPC Tender for the INR 35.675 Billion Singhpora–Vailoo Twin-Tube Tunnel

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 10, India's National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) launched a new round of EPC tendering for the Singhpora–Vailoo twin-tube tunnel and approach roads project, with an estimated tender value of INR 3567.51 crore, or approximately INR 35.675 billion. The works are located on the NH-244 Kishtwar–Vailoo–Khanabal section in Jammu and Kashmir, with a total implementation length of 38.611 km, comprising two unidirectional road tunnels crossing Sinthan Pass and connecting roads.

The two main tunnels are 10.331 km and 10.363 km long respectively. The project starts at Km 111+067 near Chhatroo and ends at Km 149+678 near Vailoo Junction. The tunnels and approach roads are procured as a single EPC package, with the contractor responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction, rather than a separate tunnel boring construction contract.

The latest tender documents correspond to Tender ID 2026_NHIDC_925785_1. The project duration is 1,825 days, approximately 5 years; the bid validity period is 120 days. The bid security is INR 356.751 million, and the tender document fee is INR 424,800. Technical and commercial documents are submitted in a two-envelope system. A pre-bid meeting will be held on October 5, bidding will open on October 19, the deadline is October 26, and bids will be opened on October 27.

The project has previously entered the procurement process. In the previous round of government e-procurement documents in 2022, the estimated value was INR 3253.58 crore, with a project duration of 1,826 days; in January 2023, NHIDCL announced the technical evaluation results. Compared with the previous round, the scope of this re-tender remains focused on the 10.331 km and 10.363 km twin tubes and the 38.611 km total tunnel and approach road works, but the latest tender estimate has increased to INR 3567.51 crore.

NHIDCL currently lists the project status as "Upcoming." The core milestone this time is re-entering the EPC construction procurement stage, and the next substantive milestones are the October technical and price bids, bid opening, and subsequent bid evaluation and award.