The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has terminated the contract for supervising the construction of a 2.5-kilometre twin-tube tunnel on the Aizawl Bypass in Mizoram, citing the failure of the contractor to secure mandatory national security clearance. The project, located on National Highway-6, was awarded to a joint venture led by railway PSU RITES and Turkish firms, but was abruptly cancelled last week following non-compliance with Ministry of Home Affairs’ clearance requirements. The decision comes in the wake of heightened scrutiny of foreign entities following India’s Operation Sindoor. Turkey’s perceived support for Pakistan has led to broader implications, including the earlier revocation of security clearance for Turkey-based Celebi Airport Services, which operated at several major Indian airports.
According to official records, the contract was awarded on April 29, and NHIDCL had directed the joint venture on May 28 to furnish national security documents. Despite multiple follow-ups, the required clearance was not submitted, prompting the government to terminate the agreement “with immediate effect,” given the project’s strategic location near India’s international borders. The tunnel is a critical infrastructure component aimed at bypassing flood-prone and landslide-prone zones in Mizoram and enhancing connectivity in the Northeast. Experts warn that the termination could delay the project by six to twelve months, as it will require re-tendering or new consultancy arrangements with fully vetted Indian firms.
“This incident exposes a gap in project governance, where compliance was treated as an afterthought,” said a former highway engineer. NHIDCL stressed that security vetting is non-negotiable for strategic infrastructure, especially in border-sensitive regions.
