Executive Summary:
This document is the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' response to questions regarding the construction of NH548C in Maharashtra. The project, including the BeedPatnaMajalgaon stretch, faced delays from its initial 2017 start date and target completion of July 31, 2019. While most of the project is complete, the remaining work is targeted for completion by December 2025 and Financial Year 2027-28.
Key Points / Main Content:
Project Status and Timeline:
* NH548C in Maharashtra has a total length of 720 km.
* 708 km of construction is complete; 12 km are in progress.
* The remaining 12 km is targeted for completion in Financial Year 2027-28.
* BeedPatnaMajalgaon section (km 51262 to km 101740) was sanctioned on January 25, 2017, with a scheduled completion date of July 31, 2019.
Reasons for Delay:
* Disputes over existing Right of Way (RoW).
* Delays in land acquisition and pre-construction activities.
* Local protests affecting a 600-meter road connection.
Majalgaon to Kaij and Kaij to Kuslamb Sections:
* These projects were sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 938.35 crore, with Rs. 690.00 crore already spent.
* Balance works are pending due to RoW disputes, land acquisition delays, and pre-construction activities.
* All pending issues have been substantially resolved in close coordination with the State Government
* Completion is targeted for December 2025.
* No extra funds are required.
Road Accidents and Compensation:
* Accidents on these NH stretches are attributed to overspeeding, rash driving, and other traffic violations.
* The Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022, is in effect since April 1, 2022.
* The scheme provides Rs. 2.00 lakh for death and Rs. 50,000 for grievous hurt in hit-and-run cases.
Quality Control and Monitoring:
* NHs are constructed as per quality standards specified by the Government and Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
* Substandard work is removed and relaid as per specifications.
* Consultants (Authority's Engineer/Independent Engineer) supervise implementation and quality assurance.
* Progress is monitored through digital platforms (PMIS, Data Lake, Bhoomi Rashi portal).
* Periodic reviews are held with stakeholders to resolve issues and ensure timely implementation.
Impact Analysis:
Executing Agencies and Contractors:
Impact: Must adhere to quality standards and complete construction within the extended timelines. They may need to address and resolve RoW and land acquisition issues.
Action Required: Implement corrective measures for substandard work, participate in periodic reviews, and utilize digital platforms for monitoring progress.
State Government:
Impact: Required to coordinate with the Ministry to resolve RoW disputes, expedite land acquisition, and manage local protests.
Action Required: Facilitate land acquisition, address RoW disputes, and support the resolution of local protests to enable project completion.
Road Users/Citizens:
Impact: Will benefit from improved road infrastructure upon completion, but face potential risks due to ongoing construction and incomplete sections.
Action Required: Exercise caution while using the incomplete sections of the highway and adhere to traffic regulations.
Victims of Accidents/Their Families:
Impact: Eligible for compensation under the Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme in case of accidents.
Action Required: File claims for compensation under the Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022, in case of death or grievous hurt resulting from hit and run accidents.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways.
NH548C: A National Highway in India. The policy text discusses the construction and delays related to this highway.
Maharashtra: A state in India where a portion of the NH548C construction is taking place.
Beed-Patna-Majalgaon: A section of the NH548C highway in Maharashtra, specifically between km 51.262 to km 101.740, experiencing construction delays.
Majalgaon to Kaij section: A section of the NH548C highway sanctioned by the Government for development.
Kaij to Kuslamb: A section of the NH548C highway sanctioned by the Government for development.
Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022: A scheme by the Indian government to provide compensation to victims of hit and run accidents, notified vide G.S.R. 163E dated 25th February, 2022.
Indian Roads Congress: An organization that sets quality standards for road construction in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3074
ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST, 2025
CONSTRUCTION OF NH-548C
†3074. Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane:
Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the time limit stipulated for the completion of construction of NH-
548C;
(b) whether construction of the above highway including the stretch
from Beed-Patna-Majalgaon 51-101 Km. was started in 2017 in
Maharashtra and was targeted to be completed by 31st July, 2019 and if
so, the reasons for the delay of six years in this regard;
(c) the reasons for blocking the 600 metre road connecting the village
on the above highway;
(d) whether construction work between (i) Majalgaon to Kaij, (ii) Kaij
and Kushlamb (160-220 Kms) particularly on Yermala and Kushlamb
section as well as on Manjari bridge and (iii) two bridges near Sadola in
Beed district is still lying incomplete, if so, the reasons therefor;
(e) the amount incurred thereon so far along with the extra funds
needed for the said works;
(f) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry in this regard
and if so, the details thereof and the punitive actions taken against the
concerned contractor and responsible officers in this connection along
with the details thereof;
(g) whether the said incomplete work led to increase in road accidents
and if so, the compensation provided to the next of kin of the person who
died in such accidents; and(h) the steps taken by the Government to ensure completion of the
said work as per declared quality standards and within stipulated time
frame?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The total length of NH-548C in Maharashtra is 720 km. Out of this,
construction works in 708 km length have been completed while works
in 12 km length are under various stages of implementation and targeted
for completion in Financial Year 2027-28 in a phased manner.
(b) The construction works for development of Beed-Patna-Majalgaon
section of NH-548C between km 51+262 to km 101+740 on Engineering,
Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode of implementation was
sanctioned by the Government on 25.01.2017. The appointed date for
start of construction was notified to the selected Contractor on
01.08.2017 with the scheduled completion date of 31.07.2019. The civil
construction works on the above highway could not be completed within
scheduled time due to disputes on existing NH Right of Way (RoW),
delays in acquisition of additional land and other pre-construction
activities.
(c) The work on 600 metre road connecting the village on the above
highway is incomplete on account of existing ROW disputes and local
protests.
(d) to (f) The projects for development of Majalgaon to Kaij section
and Kaij to Kuslamb have been sanctioned by the Government at an
estimated total capital cost of Rs. 938.35 crore and so far, an
expenditure of Rs. 690.00 crore has been incurred. The balance civil
works in these NH sections are pending due to disputes on existing NH
Right of Way (RoW), delays in acquisition of additional land and other
pre-construction activities. All the pending issues have been
substantially resolved in close co-ordination with the State Government
and the balance works are under implementation with target for
completion in December, 2025 in a phased manner. No extra funds are
required for the completion of these balance works and these projects
will be completed within the sanctioned total capital cost.(g) Accidents have been reported on these NH stretches for the
reasons attributed to over-speeding, rash driving, non-wearing of
helmets, drinking and driving, etc. Government vide G.S.R. 163(E) dated
the 25th February, 2022 has notified the Compensation to Victims of Hit
and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022 to provide compensation in
respect of the death of, or grievous hurt to, persons resulting from hit
and run motor accidents. The scheme is being implemented with effect
from 1st of April, 2022. As per the scheme, a fixed sum of Rs. 2.00 lakh is
to be provided in case of death, and a fixed sum of Rs. 50,000 is to be
provided in case of grievous hurt
(h) Various steps are taken by the Government to monitor and check
the construction quality of work on NHs. All the NHs are constructed as
per quality standards specified by the Government and Indian Roads
Congress (IRC). The sub-standard works found, if any, are got removed
and re-laid as per specifications. This is ensured by appointment of
consultants as Authority’s Engineer / Independent Engineer for day-to-
day supervision for implementation of quality assurance / control as
specified in contract / concession agreement.
Furthermore, the progress of all NH projects is continuously
monitored through advanced digital platforms such as Project Monitoring
Information System (PMIS) and Data Lake, Bhoomi Rashi portal (for Land
Acquisition). In addition, periodic reviews are held at various levels with
all stakeholders including officers of executing agencies to resolve
pending contractual issues and ensure timely implementation of the
projects.
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