New Delhi- In response to concerns over the quality of construction and maintenance in National Highway (NH) projects, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed its senior officials to collect samples from major ongoing works. These samples will undergo testing at the government-accredited Shriram Institute of Industrial Research (SRI). NHAI emphasizes the importance of addressing the quality issue, particularly with the significant increase in highway construction over the past nine years and the occurrence of contractors quoting unusually low prices to secure projects.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier urged NHAI and the road ministry to prioritize safety and quality in highway projects during a review meeting on the road sector. NHAI is set to establish its own testing labs across different zones to cover the entire process, from collecting raw materials to testing completed stretches. This initiative aims for transparent evaluation, and the results will be available online. An MoU has been signed with SRI, which will also play a role in training personnel for quality tests and lab setup.
In response to the observed decline in construction quality in projects funded entirely by the government or executed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, the road ministry plans to undertake more projects through public-private partnerships (PPP).
