Madras High Court dismisses case against ECR widening project

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition questioning the tender process for the construction of a four-lane elevated corridor from Thiruvanmiyur to Uthandi, along the East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai, and for widening of the ECR to six lanes with paved shoulders at a cost of ₹2,100 crore.

Justice P.T. Asha rejected the writ petition filed by Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon Limited accusing Tamil Nadu State Highways Authority (TANSHA) of having shown favouritism towards Hyderabad-based KNR Constructions Limited. She vacated an interim stay order granted by her on January 5, 2026.

In its affidavit, the petitioner company had claimed to have participated in the tender called for by TANSHA on August 25, 2025 for the ECR project. However, on December 24, 2025, the tender inviting authority of TANSHA rejected the technical bid of the petitioner company without assigning any reason, it alleged.

It alleged KNR Constructions was blacklisted by Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in May 2025 due to collapse of certain sections of National Highway-66 in Kerala. The petitioner company accused TANSHA of having extended the last date for submission of bids only to favour KNR.

On the other hand, KNR Constructions, in a counter affidavit filed through its counsel Vaibhav R. Venkatesh, told the court it had got backlisted only for a month and that period had expired much before the tender for the ECR Project was invited on August 25, 2025. Therefore, it flatly denied the charge of favouritism.

KNR Constructions said, it had challenged National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) June 11, 2025 suspension order before the Delhi High Court and the latter, on July 18, 2025, categorically ruled the suspension order had expired on July 11, 2025 and therefore, the disqualification could not continue anymore.

Asserting this information was disclosed by it to TANSHA at the time of submitting the bids for the ECR project, the Hyderabad based company said, therefore, the allegation of favouritism levelled by the writ petitioner had absolutely no basis whatsoever.

It was further contended KNR Constructions was a reputed construction company that had successfully completed many projects, across the country, including the elevated highway project for a distance of 10.10 km along the Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city.

On its part, TANSHA told the court the writ petition was premature since the petitioner company had rushed to the court even before the tender process could be completed fully. Only negotiations were going on and the tender was yet to be finalised.