NEW DELHI: With many complaints over poor quality of roads in recent months, especially during and after monsoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a May deadline for the road transport ministry to prioritize quality improvements and develop strong standard operating procedures to ensure accountability and consistency. TOI has learned that while Modi recently reviewed the progress of the highway industry, he also asked the ministry to crack down on underperforming contractors and file lawsuits, a move aimed at sending a strong message to erring builders. This was due to poor construction quality by contractors, coupled with insufficient supervision by consultants and government engineers, which led to a deterioration in the quality of the project. In a series of instructions, the prime minister asked the ministry to devise a mechanism to ensure that blacklisted contractors are barred from participating in new tenders, even indirectly. Additionally, contractors with a record of frequently filing arbitrations will receive lower ratings. Keeping in view the possibility of collusion between contractors and farmers, the ministry has been asked to conduct a detailed study into the pattern, delays in land acquisition and take necessary corrective measures. The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Transport to study the constraints preventing the expressway corridor from operating at the desired speed of 70 km/h. The norms are being revised to require prior approval from the authorities before any subcontractor takes part in a new project. The ministry was also asked to stop the practice of converting national highways into national highways. The move is significant given that the current government has expanded the NH network from about 91,300 km to 1.46 lakh km, an increase of 60%.
