PM Modi Directs Immediate Overhaul of National Highway Construction and Maintenance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for urgent reforms within the road transport sector. During a high-level review meeting on Wednesday evening, Modi directed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take immediate action to rectify systemic issues plaguing highway construction and maintenance across the country.
The meeting focused on the growing concerns regarding the substandard construction of roads, inadequate project reports, and the prevalence of contractors submitting bids with prices far below the estimated costs. According to sources, these issues have led to inferior quality infrastructure, with multiple incidents of mishaps occurring at under-construction tunnels and bridges, as well as newly completed highways suffering from rutting and potholes just months after inauguration. Recent examples have highlighted the dire situation. The Sohna-Dausa stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Amritsar-Jamnagar, and Eastern Peripheral Expressways have all been flagged for poor riding conditions, affecting thousands of commuters. These incidents have prompted the NHAI to debar several contractors, with seven being banned for periods ranging from one to 24 months. A cumulative fine of ₹23 crore has also been imposed over the last six to seven months to address the situation.
Prime Minister Modi stressed the need for a more rigorous approach to selecting contractors and consultants for highway projects. He urged officials to focus on fostering a pool of quality-conscious builders rather than opting for contractors who underbid significantly to win projects, thus compromising the quality of construction. The government is keen to avoid situations where roads deteriorate shortly after being completed, undermining public confidence and adding to the long-term maintenance burden. Further, the PM directed MoRTH and NHAI to halt the practice of dividing NH corridors into smaller packages just below ₹1,000 crore to avoid the need for Cabinet approval. Instead, he emphasised sending complete corridor projects for Cabinet approval, ensuring greater accountability and oversight from the government. This move aims to streamline the approval process and ensure that major projects are thoroughly scrutinised before work begins.
The meeting also touched upon the growing number of arbitration cases in the highway sector, with around 750 cases logged over the past two decades. These arbitration cases involve claims amounting to approximately ₹1 lakh crore, many of which are still ongoing. Modi directed the ministry to prepare a comprehensive report on these cases, including details about the parties involved, the claims, and the arbitrators. This will allow the government to better understand the scale of the issue and take corrective measures to prevent such disputes in the future. While addressing these systemic issues is undoubtedly a tough task, the government hopes that these reforms will lead to long-term improvements in India’s road infrastructure, ensuring better quality and safer roads for commuters. The latest directives from PM Modi signal a strong commitment to overhauling the sector and providing the nation with roads that meet global standards, both in terms of safety and durability. With these reforms in motion, India’s road transport sector is expected to see significant improvements, setting a new benchmark for infrastructure development across the country.
