Ashoka Buildcon Limited , a prominent infrastructure development company, has received significant relief from the Delhi High Court regarding its temporary suspension by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) following a tragic girder collapse incident during construction activities.

Court Provides Relief from Suspension

The Delhi High Court, through its order dated December 08, 2025, has kept Para 4 of the NHAI Show Cause Notice in abeyance. The company received the court order on December 11, 2025, at 13:30 IST, providing immediate relief from the temporary suspension that was affecting its bidding capabilities.

Structured Timeline for Resolution

The court has established a clear framework for resolving the matter:

Background of the Incident

The original incident occurred during the construction of a six-lane Elevated Corridor on National Highway 66 (NH-66) from Aroor to Thuravoor Thekku section. The collapse of two precast Prestressed Concrete (PSC) girders resulted in one girder falling onto a commercial vehicle, causing the fatality of the driver.

NHAI's Initial Response

NHAI had issued a Show Cause Notice on November 26, 2025, and imposed a temporary suspension from participation in ongoing and future NHAI bids for one month or until completion of the Expert Committee investigation, whichever was later.

Company's Position

Ashoka Buildcon has consistently maintained its position that:

• The incident resulted from sudden and unforeseeable circumstances involving hydraulic jack failure due to internal seal damages
• The girder fell on a moving goods carrier vehicle that had forcibly entered a prohibited construction zone
• All safety precautions and protocols were implemented in line with Good Industrial Practices and contractual requirements

Current Status and Operations

With the court's intervention, the temporary suspension decision has been kept in abeyance until the conclusion of the structured process outlined by the Delhi High Court. All other operations of the company remain unaffected, and the company continues to assess the financial impact of the incident while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Ashoka Buildcon Limited (ABL) has announced a significant corporate action involving its material subsidiary, Ashoka Concessions Limited (ACL). On November 26, 2025, ACL completed the sale of its entire stake in five highway special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to Maple Infrastructure Trust. This transaction marks a notable development in the infrastructure sector.

Transaction Details

The sale transaction, which was executed for an aggregate consideration of Rs 1,814.42 crores, involves the following key aspects:

Impact on Ashoka Buildcon's Financials

The sale of these SPVs is expected to have a notable impact on Ashoka Buildcon's financial position:

SPVs Involved in the Transaction

The five highway SPVs included in this sale are:

1. Ashoka Highways (Bhandara) Limited
2. Ashoka Highways (Durg) Limited
3. Ashoka Belgaum Dharwad Tollway Limited
4. Ashoka Sambalpur Baragarh Tollway Limited
5. Ashoka Dhankuni Kharagpur Tollway Limited

Strategic Implications

This divestment by Ashoka Concessions Limited suggests a strategic move by Ashoka Buildcon to potentially streamline its portfolio or reallocate resources. The sale to Maple Infrastructure Trust, a SEBI-registered infrastructure investment trust, indicates ongoing consolidation and investment interest in India's highway infrastructure sector.

Conclusion

The completion of this significant transaction underscores the dynamic nature of India's infrastructure sector. It reflects the ongoing trend of asset monetization in the highway sector and may signal Ashoka Buildcon's strategy to focus on core operations or explore new growth opportunities. Investors and market watchers will likely be keen to observe how Ashoka Buildcon utilizes the proceeds from this sale and its impact on the company's future financial performance and strategic direction.