Parliament Question: Quality and Safety on National Highways

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1077 ANSWERED ON 5TH FEBRUARY, 2026 QUALITY AND SAFETY ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS 1077. SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of frequent collapse of roads constructed under the National Highways Authority of India; (b) if so, the details of quality audits conducted during the last three years, year-wise; (c) whether the Government has ensured that highway construction adheres to high-quality standards; and (d) the measures taken to improve the quality of road construction? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) & (b) The details are annexed. (c) & (d) The measures taken to improve the quality of National Highway road construction is detailed below: All works are to be executed strictly in accordance with the codes and standards prescribed by the Indian Road Congress (IRC), and guidelines issued by the Government in Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, ensuring uniformity, technical soundness, and durability of highway assets. To ensure quality at the project level, executing agencies engage project-specific consultants, namely Authority Engineer/Independent Engineer/ Supervision Consultant (AE/IE/SC), who carry out continuous supervision and day-to-day monitoring of construction activities. Further, execution of works is governed by an approved Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) for each project, which clearly defines testing requirements, acceptance criteria, and responsibilities. Authority‟s field officials are required to verify a prescribed percentage of quality tests. In addition, independent Quality Inspections are also conducted on sample basis by senior and experienced technocrats, providing an objective assessment of workmanship, materials, and processes. At the organizational level, provisions have been made for inspections at various stages in accordance with various Policy Circulars dated 08.10.2020, dated 15.08.2021, and dated 02.03.2021. This multi-tier inspection mechanism ensures early detection of deficiencies and timely corrective actions. To further streamline execution and enhance transparency, digital systems have been introduced for recording Requests for Inspection (RFI), checks, and certifications by the supervising consultants. Additionally, provisions for uploading source approval data for manufactured materials, by AE/IE/SC on the Data Lake portal enable centralized, real-time monitoring of material approvals and compliance.ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1077 ANSWERED ON 05TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL REGARDING „QUALITY AND SAFETY ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS‟. The details of damage (locations and causes of the collapses, including the design, material, and construction deficiencies identified) sustained by National Highways, in last 3 (Three) FYs: Date of Damages due to subst Len Proje Name Completion andard construction of Year Technical Audit/ Remedial S. N NH gth ( ct C of the Name of the Project of the bridges, roads, etc. (lo of Da measures/Repairs underta o. No. in K ost ( State project cations and causes of mage ken m.) Cr.) the collapses) In the elevated span of Hero Honda Chowk on NH 48, between P4-P5 piers and between G1- Flyover and underp NH- G2 Girder, at Chainage May, 1 ass at Hero Honda 1.4 183 Haryan 48 36+350 some portion o 2024 Chowk a f deck slab has fallen down with settlement of the bituminous surf ace (MCW-01) on RHS NHAI has constituted Expe rt Committees from HQ an d IIT to assess the issue; However, the findings/repo rts from the experts are su During the Constructio bmitted & reply is awaited n of project highway, d from the Contractor. Mean efermaotion of major a while, the EPC Contractor, nd minor severity wer Under const under the supervision of th e observed at different ruction likel e Authority Engineer, has u NH- Sanchore-Santalpur 31.0 558.8 locations of the main Gujarat 2 754 y to be com 2025 ndertaken rectification wo PKG-04 73 8 carriageway in both di A pleted in Fe rks at its own level to mak rection at Sanchor Sa b-2026 e the road motorable. The ntalpur highway. Furth project road will be fully re er, various Rutting and ctified shortly. The Contra Potholes found on Hig ctor has also proposed to hway. carry out micro surfacing works in the stretches. Up on receipt of the Expert Co mmittee reports suitable a ction will be taken accordingly. PCOD=28.01.RE Panal collapse due Madhya Jhansi - Khajuraho 2022 to heavy rain & floodin Nil being repair by Concessi Prades 3 39 76.3 1410 2025-26 Pkg-1 CC = 16.10.2g at ROB at Ch. 61+100 onaire at their own cost. h 023 *LHS) The landsli de incident occurred o Four laning of Goa- n 16.07.202 Karnataka Border t 4 at o Kundapur section The Concessionaire is impl Km 147.900 of NH-66 (formerly ementing Gabion works as near Shiroo 16.07.2 NH-17) from Km. 187 ongoi per advised by geotechnic 4 1655 r Village in 8 02 93.700 to Km. 283. .24 ng al Experts at said location Uttara Kan 4 300 in the State of s to mitigate the incidents nada Distri Karnataka on DBF in future. ct, triggere OT basis under NH d by an inte DP-IV Karn nse episod ataka e of torrenti al rainfall. 170 .92 Km 337+6 2/4 laning of BRT Ti km 70 to Km This is HAM mode project Unde ger Reserve Bound (De 337+680 hence Concessionaire is r r Mai ary to Bangalore Se sco RE esponsible for repair & the ntena 5 ction of NH-948 (Ol pe l 1008 Block of ap 0 45870 y started the repair works nc e d NH-209) (km 287. eng proach of V & is in progress as per the Contr 52 - km 458.42) in K th UP in 10mt report submitted by IISC B act arnataka on HAM 4.9 length colla angalore. 3 k psed. m) Bridge at km. 79+614 ( Constructed by M/s Ga All the bridges of the entire mmon India Ltd in 200 stretch has thoroughly exa 7). mined through Mobile Bridg (1)The span A1-P1 had e Inspection Unit to ensure dislodged from the pie strength of the existing bri Chandikhole-Bhadr 74.5 r P2 due to breaking o 2023-20dges. Moreover, IE has dire Odisha 6 16 1522 19.02.2023 ak Section of NH-16 0. f the cantilever portio 24 cted to carrying out periodi n of the pier cap and h cal inspection of the bridge ad fallen on the groun s and its proper maintenan d. The D/s end of the s ce so that incident of bridg pan (girders) have pen e failure can be avoided in etrated in the ground future. due to rotation of thespan in clockwise dire ction (2) Appearance of wid e cracks (up to 3-4mm ) in the pier cap on gri d “P2”. This may resul t into the similar failur e of pier cap on grid “ P2” also in future. (3) Damages of deck s lab and girders of the dislodged span (4) Increased bar spac ing at some places as compared to the “As B uilt Drawings”. (5) Increased (about 1 00mm)/reduced cover to reinforcing bars of t he pier cap at some pl aces. (6) Lack of bond betw een concrete and bars of the failed pier Cap. Operation & Mainte nance of Muzaffarp ur-Darbhanga-Purne a section of NH-57 ( Km. 0.00 to Km. 14 A tender for strengthening 8.550 and Km. 159. and major Maintenance of 357 to Km. 287.860 NH-27( old NH-57) invited ri ) (Total length 277. 277. Breach of Maintenanc Bihar 7 27 20.09.2024 2024 sk and cost of contractor i. 053 Km.) and Toll R 053 e obligation e SMS AABS India pct.ltd) evenue collection a t Toll Plaza Km. 150 maintenance .390 (BOT Annuity s 253.48 cr ection) of NH-57 on OMT basis in the St ate of Bihar (OMT P ackage No. 20):1. Based on the report sub mitted by the expert comm ittee, soil nailing method w as used to rectify the dam PCC issued 1. The RE wall panel p age. on 12.05.201 ortion of the A1 (Than 2. The entire RE wall portio 1 & javur) side approach ( 4-laning of Thanjav 28.02.2015. LHS side) have been d n was nailed with 650 nos ur - Trichy section f 56.4 isconnected from the nails of 9m average length 8 83 280 2023 rom Km 80.00 to K 9 (Concession geogrid and fallen do with rectification of the da m 136.490 Agreement T wn on 20.06.2023. maged RE wall portion. erminated o 3. The financial estimate f n 17.03.2023 2. No loss of life or inj or the repair works was Rs ) uries . 1.88 crore (excluding GST ). The work was carried ou t and completed by NHAI o n 16.09.2023. 1.Based on preliminary in 1. The RE wall blocks spection, it is observed th Tamil portion of the A2 (Tha Nadu at the failure is due to Cla njavur) side approach yey backfill & water ingre 4-laning of Sethiyat (LHS side) have been hope - Cholpauram 50.4 disconnected from th ss & due to rupture of geo 9 36 1461 31.10.2025 2025 section from Km 65 8 e geo grid and fallen d grid .960 to Km 116.440 own on 01.08.2025. 2. The rectification work completed by the Conces 2. No loss of life or inj sionaire on 31.10.2025 wi uries th their own cost. Soil nailing collapse i ncident occurred at C h. 58+035 to Ch. 58+1 00 (RHS) on 16.06.202 5 with no casualties. The soil nailing work Under rectification at the ri was executed by the 10 2025-26 sk & cost of the concessio concessionaire in yea naire r 2023 Cause-Shotcret e thickness inadequat e; nail spacing large; anchorage length insu fficient; drainage behi nd wall inadequate RE Wall Collapsed at 276+800 to 277+050(L HS) PCC issued Viaduct is being constructe Ramanattukara-Val 39.6 2329. 11 66 on18.07.202 Cause- RE wall design 2025-26 d with contractor's own ex ancherry 8 35 5 inadequate for saturat pense of Rs 80 Cr. ed soils; poor compac tion; missing filter meKerala dia. Toppling of two PSC g irders at span P-202-P -203 of Aroor - Thurav Elevated Corridor fr 12.7 2382. oor Elevated highway under rectification at the ri 12 om Aroor to Thurav 66 30.06.2026 Span on 13.11.2025. ( 2025-26 5 83 sk & cost of the contractor oor Ch 373+810 to Ch 373 +845) (BHS) Cause- malfunctioning of jack 4 Nos. of girder collap sed at Ch.410+230 (R Thuravoor to Parav 38.3 2638. HS) under rectification at the ri 13 66 31.05.2026 2024-25 oor 9 67 Cause- Delay in cross sk & cost of the contractor girder casting and lap se execution. Distress in pile founda tion was observed at Bridge No 07 & 08 - C NH connectivity to I CTT at Vallarpadam 966 17.1 571.2 h. 7+960 and Ch. 9+06 14 30.04.2015 2024-25 Rectified by third party from Kalamassery t A 21 6 7 (BHS) o Vallarpadam Cause- Substandrad w ork execution & poor workmanship Damages in the pile fo undation Ch- 398+400 and Ch. 398+989 (RHS Kodugallur to Edap 26.0 3606. Rectified under the risk & c 15 66 31.05.2026 ) 2024-25 ppally 3 2 ost of the concessionaire Cause- Substandrad w ork execution & poor workmanship collapse of scoffoldin g of Minor Bridge (und er Construction)at Km Kollam Bypass to K 31.2 3023. .Ch. 497+370(RHS) on Rectified under the risk & c 16 66 30.06.2026 2024-25 adambattukonam 5 83 ost of the concessionaire 28.11.2024 Cause- Staging issue & improper supervisio n *****