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In a move aimed at tightening quality checks and accountability, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently issued a directive instructing its regional officers (ROs) to assume greater oversight on National Highway (NH) works executed by state public works and road construction departments. The ministry highlighted repeated critical lapses attributed to inadequate diligence during bidding and legal dispute processes. To address this, ROs have now been mandated to scrutinise bid documents before tender invitations and play an active role in legal disputes. The measure intends to better safeguard the Centre's interests and bring alignment with national policy frameworks.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a directive earlier this week expanding the role of its regional officers (ROs) in overseeing National Highway (NH) projects executed by state public works departments (PWDs) and road construction departments (RCDs). Advertisement
The ministry pointed out in a circular that several NH projects had suffered from serious lapses, citing lack of due diligence as a key cause. It noted that these failures had arisen particularly in projects handled by state-level PWDs and RCDs.
According to the circular, there were instances where regional officers were excluded from critical stages, including the bidding process and legal proceedings such as arbitration and court disputes. The ministry observed that these disputes were often handled in a mechanical fashion, failing to defend the Central government's position or to align with the ministry's policies.
To prevent such occurrences, the ministry directed that regional officers must now scrutinise all bid documents-including those for projects valued below INR 100 crore but excluding maintenance works-before any invitations for bids are issued. This scrutiny is expected to focus on identifying discrepancies, anomalies, or deficiencies in quantities, technical specifications, contractual clauses, and any stipulations imposed by appraising and approving authorities.
The circular stressed that ROs must actively participate in the adjudication of all contractual and legal disputes, including arbitration cases involving NH projects. It explicitly stated that state PWDs and RCDs should no longer pursue such disputes unilaterally without first consulting the regional officers.
Moreover, the directive mandates that all legal submissions-such as replies, statements of defence, and written arguments-be reviewed and commented upon by the respective ROs. These must be returned within 15 days; otherwise, they may be considered approved by default.
The ROs have been instructed to ensure that these submissions remain consistent with contractual terms and the ministry's broader policy direction while safeguarding the Central government's interests. When necessary, regional officers may also enlist the services of legal experts from law firms empanelled by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide guidance and support.
By mandating proactive involvement of regional officers throughout the bidding and legal dispute processes, the Centre appears to be reinforcing accountability and policy compliance. This measure also implicitly signals a tightening of procedural discipline, indicating the government's intent to avert cost overruns, contract misalignments, and weak legal defences. As NH development continues to play a crucial role in infrastructure growth, the emphasis on central oversight could pave the way for more robust project execution and policy coherence.
Source - PTI
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