Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addressed damages to newly constructed roads, bridges, and expressways due to rains. The responsibility for design, development, and maintenance lies with the concerned Contractor/Concessionaire during the Defect Liability Period/Concession Period. The government is taking steps to ensure better construction quality, drainage design, and climate resilience, including investigating failures and implementing improved monitoring and quality control systems. An expert committee was formed on May 24, 2025, to investigate NH66 in Kerala.
Key Points / Main Content:
Responsibilities and Deficiencies:
* Contractors/Concessionaires are responsible for the design, development, maintenance, and defect rectification of National Highways/Expressways.
* Major deficiencies/damages in newly constructed infrastructure due to rains have been reported for 22 projects in the last three years and current year. State/UT wise details and actions taken are in the Annexure.
Quality Assurance and Monitoring:
* National Highways are to be constructed as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications and codes.
* Consultants/Authority's Engineer (AE)/Independent Engineer (IE) are appointed for daily supervision.
* Executing agencies undertake inspections to ensure adherence to quality standards.
* Deficiencies are reported to Contractors/Concessionaires for corrective actions.
* The government receives complaints through the Public Grievance Portal and Rajmarg Yatra app.
* An internal mechanism addresses complaints from social media and other sources.
* The Ministry monitors quality and defect rectification using the NHAI One Tatpar mobile app.
Initiatives for Quality Control:
* Adoption of Automated Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC).
* Mandatory assessments using Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) before, during, and after work completion.
* Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) with AI/ML for progress and quality evaluation.
* Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) for diagnostic assessments in select states.
* Deployment of Third-Party Quality Auditors for independent audits.
Detailed Project Report (DPR) Considerations:
* Rainfall, high flood level, climate, terrain, and soil are considered during DPR preparation.
* Construction of roadside drains and Cross Drainage structures (Culverts, Bridges) are carried out as per contract scope and IRC codes.
NH66 Kerala Investigation:
* An Expert Committee was formed on 24.05.2025 by NHAI to assess vulnerable locations on NH66 in Kerala.
* The Committee visited the NH66 stretch in Kerala between 11.06.2025 and 14.07.2025.
* The committee observed low soil bearing capacity and suggested additional ground improvement techniques.
Impact Analysis
Contractors/Concessionaires:
*Impact:* Responsible for maintaining quality standards, rectifying defects, and facing penalties for non-compliance or delays. May be subject to blacklisting.
*Action Required:* Adhere to quality standards, promptly rectify defects, and cooperate with inspections and audits.
Executing Agencies/Authority Engineers/Independent Engineers:
*Impact:* Responsible for supervising construction, ensuring quality standards are met, and reporting deficiencies.
*Action Required:* Conduct thorough inspections, report deficiencies promptly, and ensure corrective actions are taken.
Citizens:
*Impact:* Can report grievances and quality issues related to National Highways through the Public Grievance Portal and Rajmarg Yatra app.
*Action Required:* Utilize available channels to report issues and provide feedback.
NHAI (National Highways Authority of India):
*Impact:* Responsible for constituting expert committees, overseeing investigations, and ensuring quality control measures are implemented.
*Action Required:* Implement quality control initiatives, conduct investigations as needed, and take action against defaulters.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH):
*Impact:* Responsible for setting policy, monitoring quality, and implementing initiatives for improvement of quality control systems in implementation of NHs works.
*Action Required:* Monitor quality, take cognizance of complaints through web portal and ensure that necessary corrective actions are taken by the Officials/Concessionaires/Contractors for the NHs projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Government of India ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways.
National Highway 66: A National Highway in India, specifically stretches under construction in Kerala that experienced collapses.
Kerala: A state in India where the collapse of several stretches on National Highway 66 was investigated.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): An autonomous agency of the Government of India responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways.
Indian Roads Congress (IRC): A premier technical organization in the country for Highway Engineers responsible for standard specifications and codes.
Defect Liability Period (DLP): A period after the completion of a construction project during which the contractor is responsible for rectifying any defects that arise.
Arunachal Pradesh: A state in India where damages were reported on the Papu Yupia Hoj Potin section of NH713A.
Delhi Vadodara Expressway: An expressway project where issues such as rutting, raincuts, potholes, defects, settlement, and bulging of RE Wall were observed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3095
ANSWERED ON 07TH AUGUST, 2025
DAMAGES TO NEW ROADS, BRIDGES AND EXPRESSWAYS
3095. SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:
SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:
ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of recent incidents of damage to
newly constructed roads, bridges and expressways due to rains, if so,
the details thereof;
(b) the number of such infrastructure failures reported during the last
three years, project-wise and State-wise and the reasons identified for
these failure;
(c) whether any action has been taken against the contractors or
agencies responsible including blacklisting or penalties, if so, the
details thereof;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure better construction
quality, drainage design and climate resilience in future highway
projects;
(e) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry into the
collapse of several stretches on the National Highway-66 being
constructed in Kerala, if so, the details thereof and the action taken
against the defaulters; and
(f) the details of measures taken by the Government to avoid such
issues in construction of National Highways?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (c) The detailed design, development and maintenance of
National Highways (NHs) / National Expressways projects, including
structures (like bridges etc.) thereon, and rectification of defects
during Defect Liability Period (DLP) / Concession Period after
completion of the work implemented on either Engineering,
Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode or on Build, Operate &
Transfer (BOT) mode or on Hybrid Annuity mode (HAM), as per
provisions of relevant Standard Contract/ Concession Agreement, are
the responsibility of the concerned Contractor / Concessionaire.
Major deficiencies / damages in newly constructed NHs / National
Expressways, including structures (like bridges etc.) thereon, due to
rains, have been reported for 22 projects / stretches during the last
three years and current year, 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)
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 has established system of receiving complaints
through Public Grievance Portal, mobile based Rajmarg Yatra app forcitizen feedback regarding issues / grievances related to NHs
including the quality issues. Further, for complaints received from
various Social Media Platforms including complaints received from
other sources about various issues concerning National Highways
including issues related to quality of construction, the Government has
set up an internal mechanism to takes cognizance of these complaints
through web portal towards ensuring that necessary corrective
actions are taken up by the Officials / Concessionaires / Contractors
for the NHs projects.
The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
(MoRTH) has initiated monitoring of the quality including defect
rectification in NHs projects through mobile based application named
as NHAI One / Tatpar. This app is used by Field officers / Engineers /
Contractors / Concessionaires directly from 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 initiatives for
improvement of quality control systems in implementation of NHs
works, some of which are as stated below: -
i. Adoption of Automated & Intelligent / Machine-aided
Construction (AI-MC) in NH projects;
ii. 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; Further revamping of NSV
system for road condition assessment using analytics and
enforcement of contractual provisions during Operation and
Maintenance (O&M) through dedicated central cell;
iii. 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;
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, fordiagnostic 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.
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.
(e) and (f) National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) constituted an
Expert Committee on 24.05.2025 to assess potentially vulnerable
locations of Reinforced Soil (RS) Walls and Slope Protection Works in
17 under construction projects on NH-66 in the State of Kerala.
Committee visited the entire stretch of NH-66 in Kerala between
11.06.2025 to 14.07.2025 to assess the adequacy of the protection
methodologies adopted / being adopted / proposed to be adopted for
slopes / embankments and other vulnerable locations and to suggest
necessary improvements. Committee held detailed deliberations
regarding Slope Stability and RE Wall with field officers and respective
Concessionaires / Contractors / IEs / Designers in July, 2025 and
observed that the existing soil at sites exhibits low bearing capacity
and suggested additional ground improvement techniques.ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3095
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025 ASKED BY SHRI K C VENUGOPAL, SHRI BENNY BEHANAN, ADV. ADOOR
PRAKASH AND DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO REGARDING DAMAGES TO NEW ROADS, BRIDGES AND EXPRESSWAYS
State / UT – wise details of major deficiencies / damages reported in newly constructed NHs / National
Expressways, including structures (like bridges etc.) thereon, due to rains, during the last three years and
current year along with action taken: -
S. Incident Details of Major damages /
State Project / Stretch Name Action Taken
No. Year defects
Permanent solution to Slip Zones on Papu –
Yupia – Hoj – Potin section of NH-713A & NH-
Arunachal Rectification of defective work initiated by the Contractor. Penalty of
1 13 at Km 31.000 (Hoj Market), Km 38.300 (Yabi 2024 RE wall Collapsed
Pradesh 5% of contract value imposed on Contractor.
Village), Km 39.000 (Waterfall), Km 39.700
(Appa Crusher) and Km 40.300 (Crusher Point)
Six-laning of Vijayawada bypass from Chinna
Concessionaire commenced the rectification work based on
Andhra Autupalli (Design Ch.0+000) to Gollapudi Defects in the construction of RE
2 2024 recommendation /suggestion of RE wall Expert.
Pradesh (Design Ch. 30+000) in Vijayawada – wall.
Rs.10,99,235/- was recovered as damages from Concessionaire.
Gundugolanu Section of NH-16
Collapse of road stretch between
km. 3.130 to 3.170 on the two-lane
Himachal Four Laning of Parwanoo- Solan Section NH-22
3 2022 portion of the project highway Restoration work has been completed by EPC Contractor
Pradesh (New NH-05) from Km 67.000 to Km 106.139
(approach road to Tunnel) of
Parwanoo-Solan section of NH 05.
Authority has imposed damages amounting to Rs.91,56,292/- on the
contractor for delayed maintenance. Rectification of rutting has been
Haryana 4 Delhi-Vadodara Expressway (Pkg. 2 & 3) 2024 Rutting
taken up by Contractor and majority of the rutted portion has been
rectified.
Ruts, cracks and surface Penalty of ₹2.8 crore has been imposed on the Contractor along with
Gujarat 5 Sanchore-Santalpur Package-4 2025
deformation / Distress was a recommendation for debarment up to one year or until successfulS. Incident Details of Major damages /
State Project / Stretch Name Action Taken
No. Year defects
observed recently after rains in rectification, whichever is later.
June 2025; severe rutting at some
locations.
The stretch is not in a dilapidated
Concessionaire has taken up rectification work. Rs. 16.42 Cr. withheld
6 Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway (Pkg-I, II & III) 2024 condition. However, minor
towards delay in jerk rectification in Pkg-I.
jerks/undulations were obsereved.
Preliminary slope stabilization work at Shirur started by the
7 Km 147.9000 of NH-66 2024 Landslide
concessionaire.
NH-169 (Kethikallu hill near Vamanjoor
Slope benching and backfilling completed; drains constructed to
Karnataka 8 (Omanjuru) town of Mangaluru Taluk in 2024 Landslide
divert water; safety measures like floodlights and signboards installed.
Dakshina Kannada district)
Work commenced for soil nailing, hydroseeding & construction of
9 Hassan Marnahally Section of NH-75 2024 Landslide at Km 227.900
drains.
Soil nailing collapsed incident NHAI has suspended the Concessionaire and its promoter from future
occurred at Ch. 58+035 to Ch. bidding for 01-month period or till Concessionaire initiates rectification
10 Chengala-Neeleshwaram Section of NH-66 2024
58+100 (RHS) on 16.06.2025 with of slope protection works. Debarment also issued to Concessionaire.
no casualties. Senior Bridge Engineer of AE removed from site.
Unprotected soil slip in the cut
Rectification work carried out and traffic restored with precautionary
11 Neeleshwaram-Thaliparambha Section of NH-66 2025 section with debris deposition on
barricading in median portion.
carriageways.
Six laning from start of Valanchery bypass to Debarment of Contractor and Independent Engineering firm from
Kerala Kappirikkad section of NH – 66 (old NH-17) from participating in ongoing/future bidding for 01 month period or
12 2025 RE wall collapsed
Design Ch. 298+500 (Ex. km 304.250) to Design completion of investigation by the expert Committee whichever is
Chainage 335+850 (Ex. km 349.260) later.
Show cause notice issued to Concessionaire for debarment upto 1
Soil nailing works collapsed from year + penalty of Rs. 50 Lakh to Rs. 5 Cr.
Km 191+820 to Km 192+100 Concessionaire directed to carryout rectification/ remedial measures
13 Azhiyur-Vengalam section of NH-66 2024
(LHS), Km193+400 to Km at their own cost.
193+540. Show Cause Notice issued to IE for debarment upto 1 year & penalty
of Rs. 20 Lakh.
Strengthening between Km 119/000 to Km
147/00 (Length = 27.98 km) on NH-154 (new Contractor’s performance security forfeited. Repair work taken up by
Mizoram 14 2023 Potholes and ditches identified.
NH-6) including construction of Retaining walls State PWD.
at essential places in the state of Mizoram
Nagaland 15 Ch. 191.980 Km to 192.060 Km (Near Phesama 2025 Subsidence zone triggered; sunk Restoration work taken upS. Incident Details of Major damages /
State Project / Stretch Name Action Taken
No. Year defects
Village) of NH-02 between Kohima and Mao for about 22 m in a length of 110-
150 m.
Damages amounting to Rs. 1.06 Cr. imposed for delayed
maintenance in Pkg-4 & Rs. 88.32 Lakh for Pkg-5. Also, IIT Kharagpur
has been engaged for detailed study for permanent rectification of
Delhi Vadodara Expressway NE-4 (Pkg.4, 5, 6, Rutting, Raincuts, potholes, defects.
16 2024
7,8, 9 & 16) settlement, bulging of RE Wall Penalty imposed on each contractor (Pkg-6, 7, 8, 9) amounting to Rs.
50 Lakhs for non-rectification of defects in the stipulated time frame as
Rajasthan per provision of contract agreement.
ontractor has rectified damages in Pkg-16.
Construction of 6-lane access-controlled
Greenfield highway from km 28+70 to Km. 53+0 Deficiencies in riding quality and (i) Damage of Rs. 50.00 Lakhs imposed upon the Contractor.
17 of Sangariya (near Chautala)-Rasisar (near 2025 settlement at some locations (ii) Two key personnel of Authority Engineer team were terminated
Bikaner) section of NH-754K as a part of observed due to poor supervision.
Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor
Srirampur to Khowai from Km 75.700 to Km Distress/settlement in various
Tripura 18 2024 Rectification taken up by Contractor.
101.300 (kailashahar Khowai Pkg-5) stretches
Uttar
PQC panel cracks, Potholes, Road Recoveries initiated from the Contractor as per Schedule-M of EPC
Pradesh & 19 4L of Nagina-Kashipur section of NH-74 2024
signages, Rain Cuts etc. contract agreement.
Uttarakhand
Four - Laning of Baharampore - Farakka Section Potholes, Cracking, Rutting, Edge
West Bengal 20 2024 Rs. 2.68 Lakhs penalty imposed on Concessionaire. .
of NH-34 from Km 191.700 to Km 292.294 Breaking
Andaman & Rehabilitation of Km 181.00 to Km 206.00
Distress, sinking of pavement at
Nicobar 21 section in Andaman Trunk Road of NH-4 to 2024 Rectification works completed.
various locations
Islands Intermediate Lane with hard shoulder (Pkg-VII)
Partial Collapse of RE Wall from Stringent warning issued to Contractor and AE. Contractor
Delhi 22 Urban Extension Road-II (Pkg. 2) 2024
Ch. 17+450 to Ch. 17+490 reconstructed the RE wall.
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