NHAI orders special quality checks on 17 highway projects awarded at steep discounts

New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has ordered special quality inspections of 17 under-construction highway projects where bids were more than 15 percent below the estimated project cost, stepping up scrutiny over construction quality in aggressively bid contracts.

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The special inspections, announced on Wednesday, will be conducted in addition to NHAI's regular quality checks. The exercise is aimed at detecting construction deficiencies early and ensuring timely corrective action.

"The first round of inspections is scheduled to be completed by December 2026," NHAI said, adding that the projects will be inspected again after six months by a different team of experts.

NHAI selected the 17 projects based on three parameters — construction cost exceeding Rs 500 crore, tender discounts of more than 15 percent and physical progress between 35 percent and 80 percent.

The projects include greenfield and access-controlled corridors, bypasses and four- and six-laning works across Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

For the exercise, NHAI has created a pool of experts, including 39 experienced and retired engineers from government organisations such as the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence and state Public Works Departments. Technical specialists will also assist the inspection teams.

The teams will examine whether construction conforms to approved drawings, technical specifications, contractual requirements and project-specific quality plans.

Construction materials, workmanship, construction methods and sampling and testing records will also come under scrutiny. The inspections will additionally examine road safety measures, traffic management and environmental safeguards, wherever applicable.

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NHAI said the exercise will help identify recurring quality issues and construction practices requiring improvement, while strengthening accountability among contractors, consultants and other stakeholders involved in highway projects.

The decision assumes significance as aggressive bidding can result in projects being awarded substantially below their estimated costs, making close monitoring of construction standards important to ensure that lower bids do not translate into compromises on quality.

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