The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has initiated special quality inspections of 17 National Highway projects that received bids substantially lower than the estimated project cost. These inspections are designed to catch quality issues early and ensure that construction meets required standards.
Key facts
- 17 projects selected for special quality inspections
- Selection criteria: construction cost above Rs 500 crore, tender discount over 15 percent, physical progress between 35 and 80 percent
- First round of inspections to be completed by December 2026
- Follow-up inspections planned after 6 months with a different team
- 39 experienced and retired engineers from government organisations leading inspection teams
- Projects located across Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh
- Projects include greenfield corridors, access-controlled highways, bypasses and four and six-laning works
What triggered these inspections
When contractors submit bids significantly lower than the government’s estimated cost for a highway project, there is a risk that the contractor may cut corners on quality to maintain profitability. While competitive bidding is encouraged, bids that are abnormally low, in this case more than 15 percent below the estimate, warrant closer scrutiny. NHAI has decided to proactively inspect such projects during the construction phase rather than waiting to identify defects later.
How the inspection process will work
Specialised teams comprising 39 experienced and retired engineers from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence and State Public Works Departments will conduct the inspections. These teams will be supported by technical experts. The use of retired engineers from multiple government organisations ensures independence and brings diverse experience in highway construction oversight.
The first round of inspections must be completed by December 2026. After six months, NHAI will re-inspect the same projects using a different team of experts to verify that any identified issues have been corrected and to assess the quality of new work completed in the interim period.
What the inspections will examine
The inspection teams will verify that construction work matches the approved drawings, technical specifications and contract conditions specific to each project. They will assess the quality of materials used, the standard of workmanship, and the construction methods employed. Records of material sampling and testing will be reviewed to confirm that materials meet required quality standards.
The inspections will also cover safety aspects, including road safety measures, traffic management during construction, and environmental safeguards where applicable. Any work or materials that fall short of required standards will be identified and flagged for corrective action under the terms of the construction contract.
Selection criteria for the 17 projects
The projects were selected using three objective criteria. First, the project must have a construction cost exceeding Rs 500 crore, ensuring that inspection efforts focus on significant undertakings. Second, the tender discount must be over 15 percent, flagging bids that are unusually low compared to estimates. Third, the project must be between 35 and 80 percent complete, ensuring it is at a stage where quality issues can still be addressed without major rework.
This data-driven approach ensures that inspection resources are concentrated on projects with the highest risk of quality compromise due to aggressive bidding.
Broader quality improvements
Beyond correcting issues in these 17 projects, NHAI expects the inspection process to identify patterns. Common quality issues, construction practices that are problematic, and areas where accountability needs strengthening will be documented. These insights will help NHAI strengthen oversight of other ongoing highway projects and establish clearer expectations for contractors and consultants.
What this means for you
If you are a traveller, user or resident in areas where these projects are under construction, this effort should lead to safer, better-built highways that last longer and require less maintenance. If you work in construction, engineering or contract management on highway projects, tighter quality oversight means greater emphasis on meeting specifications and maintaining standards, with less tolerance for cutting corners.
What happens next
The first round of inspections must be completed by December 2026. The second round, using a different expert team, will follow six months after the initial inspection of each project.