NHAI violated contract sanctity, gave concessionaires undue perks: CAG

The top auditory body found that concessions in 20 projects led to deferments of Rs 9,296 crore premium payable to NHAI between 2014 and 2019

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India came down heavily on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for giving undue benefits to concessionaires and violating the sanctity of contracts by making post-tender amendments favourable for the private parties, granting concessions to them beyond the scope of the legally binding agreement.

The top auditory body found that such concessions in 20 projects led to deferments of Rs 9,296 crore premium payable to NHAI between 2014 and 2019.

“The premium payable by the concessionaire was laid down in a legal contract drawn up after an open bidding process, in which