The petitioner challenged the tender for the construction of a four-lane elevated corridor from Thiruvanmiyur to Uthandi on the ECR and for widening the ECR to six lanes with paved shoulders at a cost of ₹2,100 crore.
The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea challenging 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 to widen the ECR to six lanes with paved shoulders at a cost of ₹2,100 crore.
Justice PT Asha dismissed a plea filed by Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon Limited, which accused the Tamil Nadu State Highways Authority (TANSHA) of favoring Hyderabad-based KNR Constructions Limited. She revoked the temporary residence order she issued on January 5, 2026.
In its affidavit, the petitioner company claimed to have participated in the tender called by TANSHA on 25th August, 2025 for the ECR project. However, on December 24, 2025, the tender announcer TANSHA rejected the petitioner company’s technical offer without giving any reason.
It claimed that KNR Constructions was blacklisted by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in May 2025 due to the collapse of certain stretches of State Highway-66 in Kerala. The petitioner accused TANSHA of extending the last date for submission of tenders only in favor of KNR.
On the other hand, KNR Constructions, in a counter-affidavit filed through its counsel Vaibhav R. Venkatesh, told the court that it was only recalled for a month and that period expired much before the tender for the ECR project was floated on August 25, 2025. She therefore unequivocally rejected the accusation of harassment.
KNR Constructions said it challenged the suspension order dated 11 June 2025 of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the Delhi High Court and it categorically ruled on 18 July 2025 that the suspension order had expired on 11 July 2025 and therefore the disqualification could no longer continue.
The Hyderabad-based company said that this information was shared with TANSHA at the time of bidding for the ECR project and therefore the allegation of favoritism leveled by the petitioner has absolutely no basis.
It was further alleged that KNR Constructions was a reputed construction company which had successfully completed many projects across the country including the 10.10 km Elevated Expressway project along Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city.
TANSHA told the court that the suit was premature because the petitioner company rushed to court before the tender process could be fully completed. Only negotiations were underway and the selection process remained to be completed.
Published – 29 Jan 2026 21:16 IST
