Leighton lands US$ 500 million Indian tunnel

Leighton has won the US$ 500 million contract to build a 9 km road tunnel in northern India.

The Chenani - Nashri tunnel in northern India's Jammu province will see Leighton India undertake engineering, procurement and construction work. The client is ITNL, a contractor and infrastructure company that won the concession to build and operate the project from the National Highway Authority."

The project will involve the construction of a 9 km long, 14 m diameter tunnel with two traffic lanes in each direction. The tunnel will be one of the longest in Asia and will bypass an existing section of the NH1A highway to provide an all-weather route. The current road is usually closed for 40 or more days per year due to poor weather conditions.

The construction contract is valued at US$ 500 million and will take an estimated 54 months to complete.

Leighton India managing director Russell Waugh said, "This is a fantastic project for Leighton India. The award of this project recognises Leighton's position as a pre-eminent contractor in India and our ability to deliver technically challenging engineering and infrastructure projects.