Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addresses a query regarding audits of newly constructed National Highways (NHs) showing early signs of damage. The response outlines measures to ensure quality standards, including supervision, inspections, and road condition assessments. It also details initiatives for quality control and a system for addressing public complaints, along with actions against defaulting agencies. Data on deficiencies reported over the last five years is provided, along with state-wise details.
Key Points / Main Content:
Quality Assurance and Monitoring:
* NHs are constructed as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications and codes.
* Consultants (AE/IE) supervise works daily; executing agencies conduct periodic inspections.
* Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) assessments are mandated at completion and every six months thereafter, monitored electronically.
* A centralized cell utilizes NSV analytics for contractual enforcement during Operation and Maintenance (OM).
* Deficiencies are communicated to Concessionaires/Contractors for corrective action within stipulated timeframes.
Initiatives for Quality Improvement:
* Adoption of Automated Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) in NH projects.
* NHAI One App enables geotagging of defects with photographs for monitoring and rectification.
* Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) utilizes high-resolution imagery and AI/ML for progress and quality evaluation.
* Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) with Non-Destructive Testing Equipment are deployed on a pilot basis in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Karnataka.
* Third Party Quality Auditors conduct independent quality audits on a case-to-case basis.
Complaint Resolution and Corrective Action:
* MoRTH receives complaints through a Public Grievance Portal, social media, and other sources.
* Complaints are addressed, and corrective actions are taken by Concessionaires/Contractors.
* Actions against defaulting agencies include contract termination, penalties, debarment, and blacklisting.
Deficiencies and Damages:
* 81 complaints regarding major deficiencies/damages in NH works have been received in the last five years.
* Remedial works are in progress, and penal actions have been initiated where applicable.
* State/UT-wise list of projects with major deficiencies/damages is annexed.
Impact Analysis:
Executing Agencies:
* Impact: Required to appoint Consultants (AE/IE) for supervision, conduct inspections, and ensure adherence to quality standards. They also need to address deficiencies and complaints, and potentially take action against defaulting parties.
* Action Required: Implement quality control measures, monitor construction, address deficiencies, and take action against non-compliant contractors.
Concessionaires/Contractors:
* Impact: Responsible for adhering to quality standards, rectifying deficiencies, and potentially facing penalties or other actions for non-compliance.
* Action Required: Ensure adherence to quality standards during construction, promptly address identified deficiencies, and comply with contractual obligations.
Public/Road Users:
* Impact: Benefit from improved quality control and faster resolution of issues, leading to safer and better-maintained highways.
* Action Required: Utilize the Public Grievance Portal and other channels to report issues and provide feedback on highway conditions.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH):
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing quality control, monitoring progress, and addressing public complaints.
* Action Required: Monitor NH projects, address public complaints, and take action against defaulting agencies to ensure quality standards are met.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways network.
National Highways (NHs): The network of highways maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Indian Roads Congress (IRC): A technical body providing specifications and codes for road construction in India.
Network Survey Vehicle (NSV): A vehicle equipped to assess road conditions, used for monitoring National Highways and Expressways.
NHAI One App: A centralized system for monitoring and rectifying highway defects using geotagging of defects and photographs.
Kerala: A state in India for which state-wise details of deficiencies in National Highways have been reported.
Gujarat: A state in India where Mobile Quality Control Vans are deployed on pilot basis.
Karnataka: A state in India where Mobile Quality Control Vans are deployed on pilot basis.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2000
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
AUDIT OF NEWLY CONSTRUCTED NHs
2000. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted or plans to conduct any
Nation wide audit of newly constructed National Highways (NH) that
have shown early signs of damage;
(b) if so, the details of NHs where such deficiencies have been
reported, State-Wise including Kerala;
(c) whether the Government maintains a database of highway
stretches failing within two years of construction and their
contractors, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the measures being taken to prevent such recurring damage across
the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) All efforts are made to ensure that the National Highways
(NHs) are constructed as per stipulated quality standards specified inthe Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications and codes. To ensure
that highway construction adheres to stipulated quality standards,
Consultants (Authority’s Engineer/ Independent Engineers- AE/IE) are
appointed by the executing agencies for day-to-day supervision
of works at site. Officials of executing agencies undertake inspections
from time to time and ensure adherence of conformity of quality of the
work done by the Concessionaire/ Contractors with stipulated
requirements.
Assessments of road conditions through Network Survey Vehicle
(NSV) has been mandated for all NHs and Expressway works at the
time of completion and every six months thereafter, which is
monitored through electronic platform. NSV system for road condition
assessment has been revamped using analytics for enforcement of
contractual provisions during Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
through dedicated central cell.
Deficiencies observed, if any, are brought to the notice of the
Concessionaires/ Contractors for taking up necessary corrective/
remedial actions as stipulated in technical schedules of the Contract/
Concession Agreement or within a reasonable period as decided by
the executing agency / AE/ IE.
The Government has additionally taken the following initiatives
for improvement of quality control systems in implementation of NHs
works : -
i. Adoption of Automated & Intelligent /Machine-aided Construction
(AI-MC) in NH projects;
ii. Operationalization of a centralized system called NHAI One App
for Monitoring and rectification of highway defects which
enables geo-tagging of defects along with photographs;
iii. Analysis of High-Resolution Imagery collected from Drone
Surveys in Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) integratedwith Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning algorithms for
periodic evaluation of progress and quality of ongoing NHs works
from time to time;
iv. Deployment of Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) equipped
with Non-Destructive Testing Equipment on pilot basis in four
States, namely in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and Karnataka, for
diagnostic assessments of overall health and quality of works
from time to time during project implementation phases;
v. Deployment of Third Party Quality Auditors for independent
quality audits of NH works on a case-to-case basis.
The Government through the Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways (MoRT&H) has established system of receiving complaints
through Public Grievance Portal, various Social Media Platforms apart
from complaints received from other sources including from Public
Representatives, etc., about various issues concerning National
Highways including issues related to quality of construction. The
Government takes cognizance of these complaints, apart from regular
review and monitoring of NHs projects towards ensuring that
necessary corrective actions are taken up by the Concessionaires /
Contractors for the NHs projects.
Actions against defaulting agencies are taken as per the
provisions of the Contract/ Concession agreement in case of any
defaults, such as termination of contract agreement, levying of
penalties/ liquidated damages, debarment/ blacklisting, declaring as
non-performers etc.
As per the information provided by the executing agencies, 81
Nos. of complaints regarding major deficiencies/ damages in NH works
have been received/ found during the last five years (including 2024-
25) and current Financial Year (excluding complaints received through
various social media platforms/ public grievance portal); State/ UnionTerritory (UT) wise details of such deficiencies including for the State
of Kerala is annexed.
Necessary remedial works taken up for rectification of these
deficiencies/ damages are at various stages of progress. Penal actions
have been initiated against the Contractor/ Concessionaire / AE/IE, etc.
as per relevant contractual provisions, wherever applicable.ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2000 ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY
2025 ASKED BY SHRI BENNY BEHANAN REGARDING AUDIT OF
NEWLY CONSTRUCTED NHs.
State/ Union Territory (UT) wise List of projects where major
deficiencies/ damages in NH works have been received/ found during
the last five years (including 2024-25) and current Financial Year:
No. of Length of
S. No. State/ UT NH No.
Projects Projects (in Km.)
1 Kerala 06 NH-66 205.298
2 Andhra Pradesh 04 NH-71, NH-16,NH-9, NH-4 199.344
3 Bihar 02 NH-31, NH-333B 74.749
4 Chattishgarh 03 NH-130, New NH-30 126.525
5 Himachal Pradesh 01 NH-22 (New NH-05) 39.139
6 Haryana 03 NH-48, NE-4 61.7
7 Gujarat 05 NE-4, NH–754K, NH-48 118.713
8 Jharkhand 01 NH 75 34
9 Karnataka 05 NH-63, NH-48, NH-75 347.846
Arunachal
10 01 NH-713A & NH-13 Protection works
Pradesh
NH-06 (New NH-53), NH-48, NH-66, NH-160, NH-848, NH-753L,
11 Maharashtra 23 NH-752G, NH-548C, NH-161A, NH-753F, NH-752K, NH-752H, 1287.292
NH-753, NH-160, NH-17, NH-166G, NH-266No. of Length of
S. No. State/ UT NH No.
Projects Projects (in Km.)
Rajasthan
12 12 NE-4, NH-754K, NH-148N, NH-65, NH-89 325.173
01
13 Telangana NH-161 48.963
14 Uttar Pradesh 03 Lucknow Ring Road, NH-76 92.618
Uttar Pradesh &
15 02 NH-74 165.709
Uttarakhand
16 Uttarakhand 02 NH-125, NH-134 (Old NH-94) 44.589
17 West Bengal 03 NH-32, NH-6, NH-34 166.435
Andaman & 25 Km, 4 Minor
18 02 NH-4
Nicobar Islands Bridges
19 Mizoram 01 NH-154 (New NH-6) 27.98
20 Tripura 01 NH-208 25.6
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