NHAI Quietly Changed the Rules on 'Similar Work' — Is Your Experience Certificate Still Valid?

That experience certificate you’re about to submit for that big NHAI tender? It might be worthless. While you were busy managing projects, NHAI quietly rolled out a major clarification in late 2025 that changes the very definition of 'similar work' experience—and many contractors are sleepwalking into disqualification.

Through a series of policy circulars (notably 11.68/2025 and 11.75/2025), NHAI has cracked down on how bidders claim experience [1]. The old game of creatively interpreting 'similar work' by piecing together components from different projects is over. Now, for a project to be considered 'similar,' it must include all major components comparable to the project you're bidding for. A certificate for just the earthwork on one project and the paving on another won't cut it anymore.

This isn't just a minor tweak. It's a fundamental shift designed to weed out bidders who stretch their eligibility. NHAI has introduced a new, standardized format (Annexure-VII) for all experience certificates issued after August 2025. If your certificate is older, you can still submit it, but you must now personally certify that the information is correct and aligns with the new, stricter definition. Any 'misleading' information will be treated as fraud under the RFP, with severe penalties [2].

The verification process has also been centralized. All certificates are now verified by the General Manager (Technical) at NHAI Headquarters, who will cross-check details with the Project Director within a tight 3-day window. This closes the loopholes that allowed vague or exaggerated claims to slip through at the regional level.

Actionable Takeaway: Don't assume your old certificates are still valid. You need to conduct an immediate audit of your entire experience portfolio. For every project you plan to cite:

1. Does it meet the new, stricter 'all major components' definition of similar work for the specific tender you're targeting?
2. Is your certificate in the new Annexure-VII format? If not, are you prepared to self-certify its correctness and bear the risk?

Stop thinking of eligibility as a box-ticking exercise. It's now a core part of your risk management. Before you spend hundreds of man-hours preparing a bid, make sure the foundation you're building it on is solid. The rules have changed, and ignorance won't be accepted as an excuse.

References

[1] Fox Mandal. (2025, October 7). NHAI Issues SOP on Experience Certificates for Similar Completed Works. https://foxmandal.in/News/nhai-issues-sop-on-experience-certificates-for-similar-completed-works/ [2] The Economic Times. (2025, September 17). NHAI tightens contract norms to curb delays, improve quality of highways. https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/nhai-tightens-contract-norms-to-curb-delays-improve-quality-of-highways/articleshow/123949038.cms