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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the road transport ministry to urgently address concerns over declining highway quality and submit a clear improvement framework by May. The instruction follows repeated complaints about damaged and poorly built national highways, especially after monsoons. The Prime Minister has asked for stronger standard operating procedures, stricter monitoring, and firm action against underperforming and litigating contractors. The ministry has also been told to review land acquisition disputes, assess contractor performance more closely, and stop converting state highways into national highways.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the road transport ministry to make highway quality a priority and complete a detailed overhaul plan by May, responding to rising public complaints about poor road conditions across several regions. The direction comes amid concerns that sections of the national highway network are deteriorating faster than expected, particularly after the monsoon season. Advertisement
The Prime Minister has instructed the ministry to prepare comprehensive standard operating procedures to improve construction quality and ensure uniform standards across projects. These procedures are expected to clearly define accountability at every stage, including planning, execution, supervision and maintenance, to reduce recurring defects and premature damage.
A key focus of the directive is stricter action against contractors with weak performance records. The ministry has been asked to identify contractors involved in frequent litigation, delays and quality lapses, and prevent them from bidding for new projects, either directly or indirectly. Contractors repeatedly linked to arbitration cases, especially those involving land disputes with farmers, will face lower performance ratings.
The Prime Minister has also asked officials to analyse patterns of land acquisition disputes and arbitration claims that slow down highway projects. The findings are expected to be used while evaluating contractors and structuring future bids, so that firms with a history of disputes do not continue to secure projects without corrective action.
Another important instruction is to stop the practice of converting state highways into national highways. This step is aimed at limiting uncontrolled expansion and ensuring that existing national highways receive adequate attention in terms of quality improvement, maintenance and safety standards.
The directive builds on earlier measures taken by the government and the National Highways Authority of India to improve execution standards. In the past, tighter rules were introduced to curb unauthorised subcontracting and restrict participation of firms barred for poor performance. Despite these steps, quality concerns have continued, prompting the latest intervention from the Prime Minister.
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