Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is an infrastructure project worth ₹1 lakh crore. It incurred significant losses due to construction defects. Recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari made a public statement that, following the investigation led by experts from IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Gandhinagar, four contractors will be penalized for the lapses. He cleared the findings and what steps need to be taken to rectify the issues in the Lok Sabha session.
Construction Defects of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
It is said to be an engineering marvel as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway happens to be the longest highway of India and is constructed at an aggressive pace which has reduced travel time between the two biggest cities of India: Delhi and Mumbai. Actually, though the preliminary results of a government-commissioned report became headline news indicating almost flawless results, grave construction faults were discovered later. Gadkari said that since he had noticed these faults, experts from two institutes, IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Gandhinagar, were called over to assess the situation.
Experts said preliminary reports show that construction was poor in terms of SMA layer quality. The reason is that the SMA layer determines both the durability as well as the smoothness of the highway.
Construction materials are not at fault, says Gadkari
Despite the glitches reported, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the glitches had nothing to do with construction material quality. Speaking on this issue, he emphasized, “There has been no wrongdoing in the construction material used for the project.” He assured everyone that the materials passed all the specified standards. In fact, what is mainly questioned is the overall quality of the construction and workmanship and nothing else.
Moreover, in expressway contract agreements, the defects liability period is 10 years. Hence, any and all defects arising due to construction quality will be solely and exclusively at the contractors’ helm for the next 10 years. Gadkari cleared the air that the contractors would indeed be held responsible for any shortfall, which will arise in due course of this time.
Accountability and Strict Action Against Contractors
According to Gadkari, it will take harsh action against four contractors to remove this fault from the system. Their notices have been issued and their blacklisting are in process as well. Except for the four contractors, certain officers who are responsible for watching over this particular project will have to face rigorous action. In fact, investigation is going against them, but further action against them will strictly depend on what extent they used to be in the process of construction and of monitoring.
Gadkari said the proposals for rectification cover rectification accountability of officials by suspending and proper action taken against surplus staff. It shall be able to properly maintain the expressway in good condition free from all issues.
Rectification work and the cost-bearing work of contractors
It shall be done as rectification by the contractors from their pocket based on identified weak areas. In some stretches where some expressway SMA layer has been found damaged, this shall be rebuilt by the contracting parties themselves- again at their costs.
Rectification work has already been started and is in the hands of hard working contractors so that it may reach highway traffic-worthy conditions. The work on maintenance and rectification comes into play taking into account the 10-year defect liability period so that highways can be utilized and safe for commuters.
Impact of the Expressway
Such is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, an infrastructure landmark that has influenced the country’s infrastructure to a very considerable extent. This has reduced the distance from traveling from Delhi to Mumbai by a considerable 200 km and brought down the travel time from 24 hours to a mere 12 hours. This is an enormous leap in modernizing India’s transportation network.
This much-awaited expressway, coming at a staggering cost of ₹1 lakh crore, is most likely to bring long-term economic benefits in the shape of connectivity between the two biggest cities of India and enhancing trade between them. Problems notwithstanding, the expressway forms a part of national infrastructure.
Conclusion
Though shocking, the government is quick working out shortcomings in the building of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Four contractors are blacklisted. Correct work is being done free of cost by the contractors. Situation is curbed down. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and stand over accountability besides steps taken by him to rectify problems available at the current juncture indicate very purpose of the Government in terms of maintaining high quality of infrastructures within this country.
It is in the hope at least during rectification work a safe and efficient expressway could come out, and it shall always remain one of the important connectivity roads between Delhi and Mumbai. Such government action against the contractors and the officials brings to the public eye such a drive for national infrastructure projects on an enormous scale.
Refer :
Economic Times, Link to article
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