New Delhi, India’s ambitious infrastructure drive has been marred by a concerning series of structural failures across national highway projects, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways admitting to 14 major incidents in the last two years. These failures, ranging from flyover collapses to severe road damages, highlight critical gaps in planning and execution, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced oversight and resilient engineering. Such lapses impede efficient connectivity and challenge the nation’s commitment to building sustainable and safe urban and rural landscapes.
The string of incidents reveals a disturbing pattern across several states. In Assam, a tragic flyover collapse on NH-27 in June 2023, prior to its opening, resulted in one fatality and two injuries, leading to a ₹1 crore fine and a four-month bidding ban for the contractor due to design and formwork shortcomings. Himachal Pradesh has faced a double challenge, with heavy rainfall and landslides in July 2023 severely damaging national highway stretches between Kullu-Manali and Parwanoo-Solan, necessitating extensive realignments and the installation of protective structures to withstand natural fury.
Further incidents include the collapse of a spine box girder on NH-248A in Haryana, which led to a ₹3 crore penalty and the removal of design consultants, revealing inadequate stabilisation during temporary stages. Uttar Pradesh witnessed multiple failures, including a girder collapse on NH-709AD and a concrete slab fall on NH-730A during construction, raising serious questions about site management. In West Bengal, the Jhargram flyover experienced a span collapse in March 2024, triggering a complete redesign, while in Gujarat, a flyover slab collapse on NH-48 in Bharuch necessitated a full segment dismantling and rebuilding under a revised structural plan.
Even without full collapses, structural integrity has been compromised. In Punjab, the Ropar–Bathinda section of NH-7 exhibited extensive slab cracking, damaged parapets, and poor drainage, attributed to shrinkage or settlement issues, requiring structural rectification. Kerala saw a culvert wing wall on NH-183 give way due to rain-induced erosion, and Andhra Pradesh reported a parapet wall collapse on NH-40, revealing vulnerabilities during the monsoon season. These incidents collectively underscore the pervasive nature of the challenges in ensuring robust infrastructure quality.
In response, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has affirmed taking appropriate action, including imposing monetary penalties, suspending works, ordering redesigns, and blacklisting errant agencies. Design consultants have been removed from current projects following their failure to ensure safe engineering. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also directed its regional offices to submit incident reports within 15 days and conduct joint inspections with contractors and independent design experts. Furthermore, the government is revising its design and safety protocols, mandating third-party verification, especially for temporary staging structures and girder-launching systems.
Despite these corrective measures, the recurrence of 14 major structural incidents across flagship highway expansion schemes like Bharatmala and the National Highways Development Project raises concerns over the rigour of audits and the accountability within public-private partnerships. Ensuring the long-term resilience and sustainability of infrastructure is paramount for India’s development trajectory. Robust, climate-resilient designs and stringent execution are essential not only for public safety and economic efficiency but also for achieving zero-net-carbon goals by preventing traffic disruptions and the associated increase in emissions, ultimately contributing to eco-friendly and equitable cities for all citizens.
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