Gadkari After Multiple Cases Of Poor Quality Roads: Only 1.2 Lakh Kms Out Of 72 Lakh Kms Under Me
India is witnessing a rapid expansion of highways and road infrastructure. We have recently come across multiple instances of poorly built highways getting damaged and turning out to be a nuisance for the people around. These created much buzz online and now, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has come up with a response. The minister said that he wouldn't spare the respective contractors if these poorly built roads came under his project.
*Representational image
Gadkari was speaking to India Today, when he made this statement. "There are 72 lakh km of roads in India. I'm responsible for just 1.5 lakh km of national highways. If the issue is on my road, I won’t spare the contractor or the officer. If the mistake is bona fide, I forgive. If it’s fraudulent, I punish"- he said.
This warning cannot be dismissed as hollow. In previous such incidents, we have seen him slap multiple corrupt contractors with fines of Rs 50 lakh each.
This action from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) followed a viral video that showed cars jumping and getting airborne on a newly constructed patch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, near package 9. This was caused by an unexpected indentation on the patch.
Vehicles including a Tata Indica Vista and Hyundai Creta were seen jumping off, and taking significant damage upon touchdown. In addition to huge fines, these agencies/contractors can also be barred from future associations with infrastructural developmental projects.
NHAI had also issued a 2.8 Crore penalty notice to a contractor for building poor-quality roads. One of the authority's engineers also faced suspension and the project director in Palanpur was removed from duty for alleged lapse in quality control. The Minister thus seems to be quite serious with his warnings.
This was in response to the viral videos showing damaged stretches on the Amritsar–Jamnagar Economic Corridor (NH-754K) in Gujarat. The patch reported multiple failures including pavement distress. The video racked up views and soon came into the notice of authorities. Soon an expert fact-finding team was formed, and detailed inspections were carried out.
The committee consisted of senior NHAI officials, IIT professors, and independent engineers. It found out that poor-quality construction materials were used here. They also found out that the affected area had inadequate drainage. The aforementioned action was based on these observations.
Criticism around poorly built roads has been mounting in recent past. Several high-profile infrastructure failures have been reported as well. The monsoons this year, have made things worse for the new highways. The rains made a road collapse in Gurugram, creating a crater that further swallowed a truck.
In Rajasthan, a fresh patch was washed away by the Katli river. In addition to these, the monsoons also brought about potholes and broken patches in several regions. There have been multiple flyover collapses and pavement failures as well. All these have made the minister come up with the new warning.
In the interview, the minister also talked about toll fees and the online trolling that they bring along. "Yes, I've seen all the memes. My favourite one is from Gadar — 'Nikla Gadi Leke, Toll Aaya Samne’.” He said, while still defending tolls. He reaffirms that tolls are essential, as they fund the future expansion and development of road projects. Toll money will also be used for carrying out maintenance of these highways.