Reliance Infrastructure has won an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for Rs 4.41 billion from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for the rehabilitation and upgrading of National Highway-66 (formerly, National Highway-17) in the Kashedi Ghat section which includes execution of three by three lane twin tunnels of total length 3.44 km. Reliance Infrastructure had bid for the project in joint venture with CAI, Ukraine, globally renowned for tunnel construction.

In addition to the twin tunnels, the contract also includes construction of highway with paved shoulders and viaducts for a length of 7.2 Km.

The project will reduce several sharp bends and steep gradients thus avoiding traffic jams and accidents. This will significantly ease the commute of Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Bengaluru motorists from Raigad to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Commissioned under National Highway Development Programme (NHDP)-IV of the Ministry, the project is to be completed in 30 months. Thereafter, Reliance JV will operate and maintain the project for 48 months.

Arun Gupta, CEO, Reliance Infrastructure EPC, said, ''This project involving twin tunnels will add to our existing credentials of executing complex projects in record time and at competitive cost. We will leverage our experience of execution of large infrastructure road projects.''

With a clear focus to position itself in India's growing infrastructure sector, and a multitude of projects in the offing in areas as diverse as power, metro rails, nuclear power plants, air quality control, marine, railways, ports, and mega infrastructure projects, Reliance Infrastructure is targeting EPC opportunities worth Rs. 2 lakh crore and increase the EPC order book to Rs 500 billion by FY19.

Shares of the company declined Rs 3.15, or 0.71%, to trade at  Rs 440.50.  The total volume of shares traded  was  6,722 at the BSE (9.28 a.m., Tuesday).