Already running much behind schedule, work on Golden Quadrilateral project could be delayed further as contracts are still to be awarded for three highway stretches, even as the government has debarred 18 foreign and domestic firms from bidding for these projects.

"Three projects under the GQ are still to be awarded. The National Highways Authority of India plans awarding the same under the National Highways Development Project phase V," highways regulator sources told PTI.

The Golden Quadrilateral that falls under NHDP phase I aims to provide direct connectivity between the four metros -- Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.

GQ had 128 contracts for constructing 5,846 km highways, sources said, adding, but 11 deals were later terminated due to delays. As many as eight of these 11 terminated contracts can be re-awarded but three remaining projects in Karnataka and Orissa also remains to be awarded, sources added.

Recently Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu had said, "Out of 5,846 km of the GQ, 5,713 km (97.72 per cent) has been completed and balance 133 is under implementation."

Earlier, the government declared seven foreign and 11 Indian firms as 'non-performers' and debarred them from bidding for NHAI projects. These include China's China Coal Construction Group Corp for delaying the Shikohabad-Etawah section and Malaysia-based Bhumihighway Venture Berhad, Dolomite Idustries Company and UEM builders for delaying Ganjam-Icchapuram, Chitradurga bypass and Haveri-Harihar.

The other foreign firms in the list are Russia's Centrodostroy for delaying the Fatehpur-Khaga and Handia-Varanasi sections of GQ, besides Saudi Arabia's Sticco for delaying the Sunakhala-Ganjham section.

The construction of the GQ was started during the NDA rule. NHDP Phase I was approved by the cabinet committee on economic affairs in December 2000 at an estimated cost of Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 300 billion) comprising mostly of GQ (5,846 km) and the North South-East West Corridor (981km), port connectivity (356 km) and others (315 km).