Executive Summary:
This document addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 268 regarding the condition of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section of National Highway NH48. It details the reasons for the highway's poor condition, particularly during monsoon season, and outlines steps taken to rectify the issues. The document also specifies actions taken against defaulting agencies responsible for maintenance lapses, with work targeted for completion by November 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Reasons for Poor Condition of NH48:
* The Vadodara to Maharashtra border section experiences high rainfall and heavy commercial traffic (1.5 Lakhs PCU).
* Heavy commercial traffic increases susceptibility to surface defects during the monsoon season.
* Prior to 2021, the Achhad to Dahisar section's bituminous pavement experienced distress due to high traffic and rainfall.
Remedial Actions:
* Potholes are regularly addressed by the maintenance agency.
* White topping work on a 121 km stretch from Achhad to Dahisar was sanctioned as a long-term solution and is targeted for completion by November 2025.
* Damaged white topping panels are being replaced by the contractor, with repairs also being done using mastic asphalt during the monsoon.
* The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, were consulted during construction, and IIT Bombay reviewed repair methodologies.
* The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is under construction to reduce traffic load on NH48.
* Additional works, including widening of bridges, construction of underpasses/flyovers, and service roads, have been sanctioned and are in progress.
Accountability and Penalties:
* Lapses in highway maintenance are addressed with penal provisions in the contract.
* Ahmedabad-Vadodara Section: A penalty of Rs. 27.67 Crore was imposed on the contractor/concessionaire.
* Vadodara-Bharuch Section: A penalty of Rs. 0.35 crore was imposed on the contractor.
* Surat to Vapi Section: The Performance Bank Guarantee of Rs. 2.90 Crore was encashed, a penalty of Rs. 9.02 crore was imposed, and a recovery of Rs. 13.84 crore is being counterclaimed through arbitration.
* Achhad to Dahisar Section: The contractor has been debarred by NHAI from 22.04.2025 to 23.11.2025, and rectification work is being taken up at the contractor's risk cost.
Impact Analysis:
Contractors/Concessionaires:
* Impact: Financial penalties, debarment, and responsibility for rectification costs due to maintenance lapses.
* Action Required: Improve maintenance practices to avoid penalties and ensure adherence to contract terms; rectify defects at their own cost.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring highway maintenance and imposing penalties on defaulting contractors.
* Action Required: Oversee maintenance work, enforce contract provisions, and manage rectification work at the contractor's risk cost.
Highway Users:
* Impact: Affected by traffic congestion due to construction and potential safety hazards from potholes.
* Action Required: Exercise caution while driving on the affected sections of NH48 and be aware of potential delays due to ongoing construction and maintenance.
Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay:
* Impact: Consulted to give expert advice on repairs.
* Action Required: Provide expert guidance on methodologies and onsite work of repair and replacement of damaged panels.
Key Entities Referenced
NH48: National Highway 48, a major highway discussed in the context of its condition and maintenance.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad: A section of NH48 specifically mentioned due to issues with potholes and road quality.
Maharashtra: A state in India where a section of NH48 (Achhad to Dahisar) experiences pavement distress.
Gujarat: A state in India where a section of NH48 (Vadodara to Maharashtra border) experiences high rainfall and heavy traffic.
Vadodara: A city in Gujarat, part of the Vadodara-Bharuch-Surat-Vapi stretch of NH48.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: A parallel corridor under construction to reduce traffic load on NH48.
Central Road Research Institute CRRI: An organization consulted for domain expertise on road construction and repair methodology.
Indian Institute of Technology IIT, Bombay: An organization consulted for domain expertise on road construction and repair methodology; reviewed repair work.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 268
ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST, 2025
MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD SECTION OF NH-48
†*268. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether large potholes are formed on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad stretch
of National Highway (NH)-48 (Delhi–Chennai) every year and it fails to/is not
able to withstand even the first spell of monsoon rains;
(b) whether any investigation has been carried out/undertaken to ascertain
the reasons behind the consistently poor condition of this highway during
monsoon, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to rectify the same;
(c) the reasons for the failure to maintain the road quality to
satisfactory/required standards despite multiple toll hikes implemented on
this route in recent years; and
(d) whether there is any mechanism to ensure accountability for the
maintenance of highways and if so, the details thereof along with the action
taken against the defaulting agencies during the last five years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 268 ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST, 2025 ASKED BY
SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI REGARDING ‘MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD
SECTION OF NH-48’.
(a) to (c) The section of NH-48 from Vadodara to Maharashtra border in State
of Gujarat lies in a high rainfall region and carries nearly 1.5 Lakhs Passenger
Car Unit (PCU) traffic. Since this stretch carries very heavy commercial
traffic, it is more susceptible to surface defect especially during monsoon
season. The damages and pothole formations have been observed at some
locations on the Vadodara-Bharuch-Surat -Vapi stretch of NH-48 in Gujarat
State, due to continuous heavy rain complemented with heavy commercial
traffic on the highway stretch. However, the potholes are regularly being
attended by Maintenance agency to keep the stretch in motorable
conditions.
Prior to 2021, on account of very high commercial traffic & huge rainfall
and pavement distress was noticed on bituminous pavement of Achhad to
Dahisar section of NH-48 in state of Maharashtra. Therefore, as a long term
solution, the work of white topping of entire section of 121 Km stretch was
sanctioned. This white topping work is under progress and targeted for its
completion by November 2025. The lane by lane work, issue of traffic
congestion, pre-mature running of vehicle over fresh/under curing concrete
etc led to localised failures in white topping. The potholes in the white
topping are being attended by the white topping Contractor by replacing the
damaged panels. In addition to this during on-going monsoon, the potholes
are also repaired by mastic asphalt. During construction, the domain experts
from Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Bombay have been consulted. The methodology and on-site
work of repair and replacement of damaged panels has also been reviewed by
IIT Bombay.
To reduce traffic load on NH-48, a parallel corridor—the Delhi–Mumbai
Expressway—is also under construction. Upon its completion, a significant
portion of the traffic is expected to be diverted from NH - 48. In addition tothis, based on site requirements, additional works such as widening of
bridges, construction of new Vehicular Underpasses/Light Vehicular
Underpasses (VUPs/LVUPs)/flyovers, and provision of service roads have
already been sanctioned on existing NH-48, and execution of these works is
in progress.
(d) The lapses in maintenance of highway are being dealt with applicable
penal provisions in the Contract including taking up the works on the Risks &
Cost of non-performing contractors. The details of action taken against the
defaulting agencies during the last five years are as under:
Sl Section of NH-48 Details of Action taken against the defaulting agencies
No during the last five years
1 Ahmedabad- Damages/penalty of Rs. 27.67 Crore imposed on
Vadodara Section Contractor/concessionaire.
2 Vadodara- Damages/penalty of Rs. 0.35 crore is imposed on
Bharuch Section Contractor
3 Surat to Vapi The Performance Bank Guarantee amounting to Rs.
Section 2.90 Crore has been encashed. A penalty of Rs. 9.02
crore has been imposed, and a recovery of Rs. 13.84
crore has been counterclaimed through arbitration
proceedings.
4 Achhad to The Contractor has been debarred by NHAI from
Dahisar section 22.04.2025 to 23.11.2025 for default in the contract.
NHAI is also taking up rectification on risk & cost of
defaulting contractor.
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