Harish Gupta. New Delhi
Even as security agencies are sounding alarm bells over China’s designs along the borders, Chinese companies are penetrating in the Indian infrastructure sector in a big way. While the Heavy Industries Ministry has raised alarm over how Chinese power equipment suppliers outwit PSUs like BHEL and BEL and also in the telecom sectors, the Chinese have made inroads into constructing Indian highways in a big way.
The Chinese companies have already completed 10 big projects in various parts of the country, they are also partners in the construction of Srinagar-Banihal road project.
The Chinese companies are also constructing six laning of the Vadakkancherry-Thrissure section. The project was awarded to KMC Cnstruction which partnered with the China Railway 18th Bureau Group (CR18G) consortium.
The Panvel-Indapur, Piprakothi-Motihari-Raxaul and Jaipur-Reengus projects are among the major national highway projects which are under construction. Surprisingly, the Chinese hold 26% equity in all these road construction projects.
According to official sources security clearances was obtained for engaging the Chinese firms in awarding the contract in Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar. Mr Jitin Prasada, Minister of State in Road Transport and Highways, said in reply to an unstarred question that the firms given the contract were selected on international bidding competition.
The Chinese companies have completed as many as ten Road projects in the country. These projects are as under:
- Salem to Karur
- Radhanpur to Gagodhar
- Jetpur to Bhiladi
- Shivpuri bypass & upto Madhya Pradesh / Rajasthan Border
- Chittorgarh bypass (Rajasthan)
- Kota to Chittorgarh (Rajasthan)
- Hyderabad Bangalore Section (Four Projects)
