New Delhi: Action will be taken against four contractors for deficiencies in the construction of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.
The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways informed Lok Sabha that the quartet has been held responsible for the deficiencies which have been detected, PTI reported.
“After noting the deficiencies, we roped in experts from IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Gandhinagar. Initial findings of the report show there are deficiencies in its construction,” Gadkari said during Question Hour in the lower House of Parliament.
Gadkari, however, clarified there was no wrongdoing in the construction material used in the expressway.
“It is not an issue about the quality of construction material. There has been no wrongdoing in it. There is a 10-year defect liability period of the highway and the contractors will be held liable,” the minister stated.
“As per initial findings of the investigation, certain deficiencies have been observed in the quality of stone mastic asphalt layer. The stretches of damaged SMA layer are proposed to be relaid by EPC contractors at their own cost,” Gadkari informed, responding to a written question.
Rectification work is being done by the contractor concerned at their own cost, as per the mandate of maintenance and defect liability period of 10 years as envisaged in the contract agreement, and are maintaining the stretch in traffic worthy condition, Gadkari added.
The minister said fixing accountability of officials, suspending defaulters, retiring redundant staff and blacklisting contractors will be part of his strategy.
“We have issued notices to four contractors and will blacklist them. Strict action will be taken. Action will also be taken against officials concerned,” he said.
Showcause notices have also been issued to National Highways Authority of India officers responsible for in-field monitoring.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, India’s longest such road, was constructed in the shortest time.
“The expressway was built at a cost of Rs 1 lakh crore. It has reduced the distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 200 km. The travel time between the two cities has now reduced to 12 hours,” said Gadkari.
