Modi To Gadkari: Stop Building Poor Quality Highways

We have heard several videos and images where people have complained about the poor quality of the newly built highways and expressways from different part of the country. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who is in-charge of the road transport and highways, has also been informed about the same. With number of cases increasing, Prime Minister has now stepped into this matter and has directed the road transport ministry to check the quality of construction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the department to not just fix the systemic issue but also fix the rampant sub-contracting of work on the highways, poor project reports and also there have been reports where contractors are known to quote very low prices which leads to cost cutting and inferior quality.

Prime Minister Modi during a review meeting of road transport sector instructed NHAI to focus on the build quality and maintenance of highways. The leader also asked the road transport ministry to leave development of roads in cities to the state government. As per media reports, the poor quality of the roads was the major topic of discussion throughout the meeting and Prime Minister asked to take swift action to resolve the issue.

 

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As per Times Of India, Prime Minister also asked officials to take steps to develop quality conscious highway builders and consultants. The minister also asked the department to avoid contractors and builders who bag  orders by quoting prices 30-40 percent below the estimated cost.

There have been several instances were mishaps have been reported at under construction bridges and tunnels due to the cost cutting measures. Many newly inaugurated roads have developed cracks and have also caved in just months.

In the last six-seven months, NHAI has debarred seven contractors for poor quality work on Sohna-Dausa stretch of Delhi-Mumbai, Amritsar-Jamnagar and Eastern Peripheral Expressways. They have imposed a cumultive fine of Rs 23 crore to these contractors.

The report also mentions that the PM asked the ministry to stop dividing National Highway corridors into several packages to keep the cost under Rs 1,000 crore. The projects are planned in this manner as they don’t need cabinet approval. However, Prime Minister has asked the ministry to send complete corridor projects for cabinet approval. Road ministry was also directed to prepare a detailed report on arbitrations of the last 20 years.

Nitin Gadkari who has been leading the road transport and highways ministry for over 10 years have started several new highway projects. However many of these expansion projects are lacking transperancy. There have been instances where Nitin Gadkari himself has criticised the department.

In the past we have seen videos of him inspecting the quality of roads by travelling in car through those highways at high speed. He also criticised contractors and maintenance agencies who were neglecting highways and expressways.

Recently, he saw poorly maintained section of Eastern Peripheral Expressway and told that the department will take necessary action against the maintenance agency if timely repair works are not done. Not only will there be a hefty fine but, the contractor will be blacklisted from all the government projects.