The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is conducting special quality inspections on 17 under-construction National Highway projects where the bid value was more than 15% lower than the estimated project cost. This initiative aims to strengthen quality control and ensure adherence to technical standards during construction, facilitating timely corrective action where needed.
The 17 projects were selected based on three specific criteria: construction cost exceeding ₹500 crore, tender discount over 15% compared to estimated cost, and physical progress between 35% and 80%. The projects include greenfield and access-controlled corridors, bypasses, and four/six laning works across nine states: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.
NHAI has assembled a pool of 39 experienced and retired engineers from various government organizations including the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence, and State Public Works Departments to conduct the inspections. These specialized teams, supported by technical experts, will examine construction work against approved drawings, technical specifications, contract conditions, and project-specific quality plans. The inspection scope includes quality assessment of construction materials, workmanship, construction methods, sampling records, testing procedures, road safety measures, traffic management, and environmental safeguards.
The first round of inspections is scheduled for completion by December 2026, with follow-up re-inspections planned after six months using different expert teams to ensure quality compliance and adherence to construction standards. Any work not meeting required standards will be identified for corrective action as per contract provisions. This initiative also aims to help NHAI identify common quality issues, construction practices, and areas requiring greater accountability from contractors, consultants, and other project stakeholders.