Parliament Question: Damage to Roads, Bridges and Expressways due to Rainfall

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2240 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 DAMAGE TO ROADS, BRIDGES AND EXPRESSWAYS DUE TO RAINFALL †2240. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM: SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE: DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE: SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government maintains any data of the recent incidents of damage caused to newly constructed roads, bridges and expressways due to rainfall in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) the number of such failures in infrastructure constructions reported in the country, particularly in Maharashtra, UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and other States/UTs during the current financial year 2025-26, project and State/UT-wise along with the reasons identified for these failures; (c) whether any action including blacklisting or imposition of penalties has been taken against the contractors or agencies found responsible for the said failures and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure better construction quality, drainage design and climate resilience in future highway projects in the country particularly in the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) to (c) The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Major damages in newly constructed NHs / National Expressways, including structures (like bridges etc.) thereon, due to rainfall, have been reported for 51 projects / stretches during the current Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, State / Union Territory (UT) – wise details of which along with action taken are at Annexure. (d) All efforts are made to ensure that the National Highways (NHs), including for the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, are constructed as per stipulated quality standards specified in the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications and codes. To ensure that highway construction adheres to stipulated quality standards, Consultants [Authority’s Engineer (AE) / Independent Engineer (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 / Contractor with stipulated requirements. 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 in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated monitoring of the quality including defect rectification in NHs projects through mobile based application. This facilitates efficient highway project management by the internal stakeholders (Field officers / Engineers / Contractors / Concessionaires) directlyfrom onsite, through digital reporting of daily and monthly defects, submission of geo-tagged and time-stamped photos for inspections and digital uploading of test results. The Government has taken the following additional initiatives for improvement of quality control systems in implementation of NHs works, some of which are as stated below: - i. Mandatory assessments of road conditions through Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) before start of work, before issue of completion certificate and thereafter at regular intervals of six months after completion of the work, thereby enabling quality assessment of NHs at regular intervals for (a) ensuring the maintenance during Concession period / DLP and (b) prioritizing maintenance requirements to maintain NHs in traffic worthy condition. NSV system for road condition assessment has further been revamped using analytics for enforcement of contractual provisions during Operation and Maintenance (O&M); ii. Analysis of High-Resolution Imagery collected from Drone Surveys in Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) integrated with Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning algorithms for periodic evaluation of progress and quality of ongoing NHs works from time to time; iii. 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. Decision has been taken to diversify this initiative in some more States; iv. Deployment of Third Party Quality Auditors for independent quality audits of NH works on a case-to-case basis;v. Adoption of Automated & Intelligent / Machine-aided Construction (AI-MC) in NH projects. Aspects of rainfall, high flood level, climate, type of terrain, soil category etc. are invariably taken into consideration during preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for all NH development / upgradation projects. Accordingly, construction of roadside lined / unlined drains, Cross Drainage structures viz., Culverts, Minor & Major bridges across natural streams / drainage etc., are carried out as per scope of contract for the project by the Contractor / Concessionaire as per standard specifications and Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2240 ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 ASKED BY SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM, SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE, DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE AND SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI REGARDING DAMAGE TO ROADS, BRIDGES AND EXPRESSWAYS DUE TO RAINFALL State / UT – wise details of major deficiencies / damages reported in newly constructed NHs / National Expressways, including structures (like bridges etc.) thereon, due to rainfall, during the current FY 2025-26 along with action taken: - S. State Project / Stretch Name Details of Major damages / defects Action Taken No. Ruts, cracks and surface deformation / Distress was Show Cause Notice issued to Contractor. Based on Expert Gujarat 1 Sanchore-Santalpur Package-4 (NH-754A) observed after rains in June 2025; severe rutting at team report, Contractor directed for rectification of damaged some locations. location. Rectification work under progress. Kullu Manali connected by temporary restoration; traffic plying in 2 lane; Manali Bypass connectivity restored. Bids for 2 Kiratpur-Manali section (NH Nos. 205, 154, 03) 15.165 km damaged permanent restoration of 9 Nos. locations received and for other locations bids invited. 3 Parwano-Solan-Shimla section (NH-5) 0.68 km damaged Landslide removed from all locations and traffic is through. Shimla- Mataur section (NH Nos. 205, 103, 03, Temporary restoration completed. Permanent restoration 4 2.595 km damaged Himachal 503) completed except at 2 locations. Pradesh Temporary restoration works completed. Permanent restoration 5 Pathankot-Mandi section (NH-154) 2.165 km damaged works taken up. 6 Banikhet - Chamba – Bharmour (NH-154A) 13.5 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. 7 Sainj – Luhri – Aut (NH-305) 21.38 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. 8 Theog – Hatkoti (NH-705) 9.35 km damaged Traffic through. 9 Shimla – Rampur -Wangtoo-Kaurik (NH-5) 38.75 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. 10 Snail – Hatkoti (NH-707) 3.16 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. 11 Mcleodganj – Dharamshala (NH-503) 1.56 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up.S. State Project / Stretch Name Details of Major damages / defects Action Taken No. 12 Bankhandi – Bhota (NH-503A) 0.23 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. 13 Hamirpur-Karnohal-Kalwahn-Mandi (NH-3) 11.08 km damaged Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. Land slides, settlement & sinking of roads, culverts Temporary restoration works completed; Traffic movement 14 Domail-Katra-Reasi-Bhamla road (NH-144) damage, damage to protection walls restored. Sinking of road, damage to protection walls, culverts Temporary restoration works completed; Traffic movement 15 Akhnoor-Poonch road (NH-144A) and lined drains restored. 100m road washed away, affecting 220 m diversion Temporary restoration works completed; Traffic movement 16 Chenani- Sudhmahadev road (NH-244) road constructed by cutting hill side. Breast wall, restored. Permanent restoration works in progress. drains, retaining walls damaged in 2.066 km. Due to extensive landslide, Retaining Wall & Carriage Temporary restoration works completed; Traffic movement 17 Batote to Thathri section (NH-244) way damaged. restored. Permanent restoration works in progress. Due to extensive landslide, Retaining Wall & Carriage Temporary restoration works completed; Traffic movement 18 Thathri-Drabshalla- Chatroo section (NH-244) way, box culvert damaged. restored. Permanent restoration works in progress. Due to extensive landslide, Protection work / Road 19 Chatroo-Sinthantop- Vailoo section (NH-244) Permanent restoration works completed. surface damaged. Due to extensive landslide, Retaining Wall & Carriage Temporary restoration works completed; Traffic movement 20 Goha-Khellani road (NH-244) way damaged. restored. Permanent restoration works in progress. Jammu & (i) Damage to three spans of the RHS 2 lane Devak Kashmir bridge due to settlement of two piers. (ii) Damage to abutment and RHS span bridge on Ravi river Temporary restoration works completed; Permanent restoration 21 Pathankot – Jammu section (NH-44) (iii) Damage to three spans of LHS 2 lane bridge at works in progress. Khaderu. (iv) Scouring and Damage to apron/ floor protection of bridges. Massive land slides at Batra Hospital, Sidhra, Temporary restoration works completed; Permanent restoration 22 Jammu - Udhampur section (NH-44) Nagrota, Bann, Jhajjar Kotli and Sangoor. works in progress. Abutment and bridge span damaged at Tharad. Udhampur - Chenani section (NH-44) Temporary restoration works completed; Permanent restoration 23 RCC Retaining wall and road carriageway fully works in progress. damaged at Balia Nala. Approach of tunnel is damaged and chocked with Temporary restoration works completed; Permanent restoration 24 Nasri- Ramban section (NH-44) muck. works in progress. 25 Ramban- Banihal section (NH-44) The valley side retaining wall has been damaged. Permanent restoration works completed.S. State Project / Stretch Name Details of Major damages / defects Action Taken No. Unprotected soil slip in the cut section with debris Rectification work carried out and traffic restored with 26 Neeleshwaram-Thaliparambha Section of NH-66 deposition on carriageways. precautionary barricading in median portion. Six laning from start of Valanchery bypass to Debarment of Contractor and Independent Engineer firm from Kerala Kappirikkad section of NH – 66 (old NH-17) from participating in ongoing/future bidding for 01 month period or 27 RE wall collapsed Design Ch. 298+500 (Ex. km 304.250) to Design completion of investigation by the expert Committee whichever Chainage 335+850 (Ex. km 349.260) is later. During construction period, due to ingress of water on account of unprecedented rainfall, the shoulder and Show Cause notice issued to Contractor; also, Quality Audit of 28 Balaghat-Gondia section of NH 543 high embankment failed leading to visible defects in the section caried out through independent Auditor. pavement layers. During heavy rains, ingress of water resulted in 29 Jhansi-Khajuraho (Pkg-1) section of NH-39 failure/collapse of RE wall at Chainage 61+100 (LHS) Show Cause notice issued to Concessionaire. of the ROB. Madhya During construction stage, sudden collapse of earth Pradesh mass at crown of under construction tunnel portal at Km. 32+630 led to casualty of 02 workers; the 30 Tejajinagar - Balwara Section of NH-347BG Show Cause notice issued to Concessionaire. preliminary study/examination has indicated that design failures/incomplete works followed with heavy rains have resulted in failure. RE wall buldging led to collapse of 02-03 panel of A-1 Risk and Cost Notice issued to Contractor. Rectification works 31 Gwalior Shivpuri Section of NH-3 (LHS) of RE wall approaches of ROB at Km 109+900 under progress. Approaches to certain minor bridges washed out; 32 Udgir -Ravi-Degloor section of NH-63 Temporary restoration work completed. Traffic is through. Bridge return wall and wearing surface damaged. Left & Right side road earthwork & subgrade side Shoulder swept away due to flood. Existing Cross 33 Osmannagar to Kundral (NH-161A) Temporary restoration work completed. Traffic is through. Drainage Work and road length heavily damaged due Maharashtra to overtopping due to heavy flood. Ghat portion on Fulsawangi to Mahur section on Landslide in ghat portion. Severe erosion noticed to 34 Temporary restoration work completed. NH 752I the road carriageway. Damage to the existing HPC. Existing Minor Bridge overtopped due to heavy flood. Existing realignment section. Necessary repair work done. 35 Tiruka bridge on NH-50 Minor bridge towards Udgir side Approach Road earthwork & subgrade, side Shoulder swept awayS. State Project / Stretch Name Details of Major damages / defects Action Taken No. due to flood. Minor Bridge Railing & bridge wearing Course swept away due to flood. Landslide in Karanji ghat section; complete damage Rehabilitation and Upgradation of NH-61 from end to approach road embankments at various bridges 36 of Ahmendnagar Bypass to Kharawandi Kasar Temporary restoration work completed. Traffic is through. and culverts, severe damage to side shoulders and (Section of Km 232+000 to 284+000) development of numerous potholes. Km 137.000 to 147.000, 150.000 to 152.800, 37 156.000 to 160.000 & 211.600 to 217.700 of NH- Washed out BT stretch, water logging. Flood Damage Repair work approved. 160A 1 Pier of Minor Bridge damaged on upstream side of 38 Buldhana Khamgaon (NH-753E) Rectification work through maintenance contractor. river; also bulging of existing piers. Due to heavy rain, Land slide occurred & Potholes 39 Mahad to Raigad Fort Road of NH-166F Flood Damage Repair work approved. were observed. Ch. 191.980 Km to 192.060 Km (Near Phesama Subsidence zone triggered; sunk for about 22 m in a Nagaland 40 Damaged road portion restored through maintenance contract. Village) of NH-02 between Kohima and Mao length of 110-150 m. Major bridge over river Ravi damaged due to Jalandhar - Pathankot/ J&K Border section of NH- Punjab 41 excessive discharge of flood water from Ranjit Sagar Traffic through. Permanent restoration works taken up. 44 Dam and Madhopur barrage. Construction of 6-lane access-controlled Greenfield highway from km 28+70 to Km. 53+0 (i) Damage of Rs. 50.00 Lakhs imposed upon the Contractor. Deficiencies in riding quality and settlement at some Rajasthan 42 of Sangariya (near Chautala)-Rasisar (near (ii) Two key personnel of Authority Engineer team were locations observed Bikaner) section of NH-754K as a part of terminated due to poor supervision. Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor 43 Limchigad Bridge (NH-34) Bridge Collapse 100 Ft Bailey Bridge launched. Kalgadi Bridge, km 238, Ramnagar-Pauri Section 44 Bridge Collapse 45 m Bailey Bridge Installed of NH-309 Uttarakhand Tamak bridge, Km 41.050 on Suraithota-Malari 45 Bridge Collapse Temporary diversion constructed. Road (NH-107B) Pangti Bailey Bridge at Km 52.75 on the 46 Bridge Collapse New bridge is already under construction Joshimath-Malari Road (NH-107B)S. State Project / Stretch Name Details of Major damages / defects Action Taken No. Sinking of 500 m road at Km 1.5 and 500 m road at Temporary restoration completed. Landslide treatment work 47 Rudraprayag – Gaurikund (NH-107) Km 35.99 due to heavy rainfall & river erosion on executed at Km 35.99. DPR under preparation for Landslide valley side treatment work at Km 1.5. Dharali (Km 19.00 to Km 19.400), Harshil (Km 23.4 to Km 24.00), Sonagad (Km 46.850), Balkandar (Km 46.200), Dabrani (Km 48.050), Temporary restoration completed. Permanent restoration works 48 Road sinking, wash out Limchigad (Km 53.5), Papadgad ( Km 67.00), under progress. Bhatwari (Km 69.100), Maneri (Km 87.00) of NH- 34 Temporary restoration completed through construction of 49 Jeevan Ashram (km 139) of Nh-707A 150 mtr road washed out diversion road. DPR under preparation for Landslide treatment work. Penalty of Rs. 14.693 Lakh imposed on Concessionaire for 50 Berhampore – Farakka Section of NH-12 Potholes, cracking, rutting, edge breaking etc. breach of maintenance obligation of Berhampore Bypass West Bengal After the occurrence of the landslide, Contractor was directed 51 Sevoke – Rangpo section of NH-10 Road sinking and landslide to immediately mobilize required machinery to the damaged site and carry out necessary repair works. *****