Lok Sabha Question No. 6385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Complaints about NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6385

ANSWERED ON 5 TH  APRIL, 2018

## COMPLAINTS ABOUT NHS

## 6385.   DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सडक परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is committed to expand the National Highways (NHs) and fixed a per day target for expeditious completion of work;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  are  many  complaints  about  use  of inferior quality material for constructing NHs by the concerned agencies;
- (c) if so, the details thererof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  are  also  complaints  about  delay  in construction ignoring the road safety norms and inferior quality toll services and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  considering  a  national  level  monitoring  cell  to  check  and monitor the national and State agencies relating to construction of NHs;
- (f) if  so,  the  details  and  the  salient  features  thereof  along  with  the  manner  and  extent  to which it will be effective to monitor the projects of NHs; and
- (g) the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) Ministry is  committed to expand the National Highways (NHs) and fixed the target of 15000 km for completion which comes out to be 41.09 km  per day during the  financial  year 2017-18.

(b) to (d) Various  complaints  alongwith  the  action  taken  by  the  ministry  regarding  the quality of construction work, use of inferior quality material, delay in construction ignoring the road  safety  norms  and  inferior  quality  toll  services  on  National  Highways  (NHs)  is  given  at Annexure-I.

(e) to (g) As such no National Level Monitoring Cell is under formation in the Ministry. However, There is a well-established mechanism for monitoring/testing of quality of construction  /development  of  work  of  NHs  by  engaging  a  Consultancy  firm  of  repute  as Supervision Consultant / Independent Consultant / Authority Engineer. They supervise / monitor the  quality  of  work  as  per  procedures  laid  down  in  various  codes  published  by  Indian  Roads Congress  (IRC),  manuals  &  Ministry's  specifications  for  Road  and  Bridge  works,  etc.  The routine inspections are also done by Engineers on regular basis to assess quality of construction and  maintenance  of  road.  Consultants  &  National  Level  Project  Monitors  are  also  being empaneled  for  conducting  Independent  Quality  Audit  on  the  ongoing  National  Highways Development Projects. These agencies/monitors act as a third party independent body to carry out quality audit of various project, over and above monitoring of quality of road independently by Supervision Consultant / Independent Consultant / Authority Engineer /officers of Ministry/NHAI.

## Annexure-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  6385  FOR  ANSWER  ON  05.04.2018  ASKED  BY  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO, SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL AND DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE REGARDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT NHS.

## Details of the complaints received during NHs construction

## Sl no. Details  of complaint/anomalies found during the execution of NH Projects

Shabby  maintenance  of  Highway  and  service  roads  from  Surathkal-Mangalore  to  B.C.Road  & misuse of maintenance funds etc. in Karnataka. Periodic renewal of stretches of length 11.20 km of

1. NH-17  (New  NH-66), NH-48(New  NH-73)  &  NH-13.  Development of Adequate Road Connectivity to New Mangalore Port for one year (2014-15) in the state of Karnataka. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.
2.  Huge corruption and negligence during the construction of over bridge on NH-316 at Samajajpur in Puri district of Orissa. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.

2.

3.

-  Complaint regarding Sambalpur-Bargarh-Orissa/ Chhattisgarh Border section of NH-6 is prone to  accident  due  to  poor  quality  of  construction,  toll  plazas  are  time  consuming,  low  quality Bitumen  and  poor  processing.  All  the  complaints  are  duly  examined  and  in  case  of  merit  in  the complaint, appropriate corrective measures are taken. The Concessionaire has started rectification of the damages by laying bituminous renewal coat. Two dedicated ETC lanes are provided for fast movement of vehicles.
-  Complaint regarding poor quality of work and stone pitching material was not as per norms in widening four  by  six  lanes  on  NH-5  from  Sunakhala  to  INS  Chilka  through  Balugawn  town.  Matter  is  being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.
-  Complaint regarding thickness of stone pitching in Ganjam,-Sunakhala section of NH-5. In this regard, 50% of the payment of contractor against the BOQ item has been withhold.
-  A complaint dated 25.3.2016 of Sh. Karan Singh was forwarded by CVC regarding use of Substandard material in construction of Six Laning of NH-2 in UP.
-  Devender Singh Bhole, M.P. made a complaint in construction of 2 laning with paved shoulders of Kanpur to Kabrai Sec. of NH-86 from Km 7.430 to Km 130.100 in State of UP on DBFOT on Toll Basis under NHDP Ph. IV-A.
-  A complaint dated 03.7.2015 was received from Sh. Narendra Kumar on various issues including quality of Constructions work of Orai-Bhognipur section on NH-25 in UP.
-  A  complaint  dt  29.01.2018  received  from  Sh.  Ravindra  Kumar,  Advocate  regarding  cheap construction  through  Contractor  M/s  APCO  Infratech  with  the  collusion  of  officers  of  NHAI Project and misappropriating Government funds in Delhi Meerut Expressway.
-  Complaints regarding financial irregularities, loot and allegation of using sub-standard material while making bridge on Shamnua rail crossing on NH-86.
-  Complaint regarding Excess Fee charged on Tendual, Muzaina Hetim, Salamgarh Toll  Plaza.
-  Complaint  regarding  misbehavior  at  the  toll  plaza  on  NH-29  Varanasi-Gorakhpur  section  and Ayodhya - Gorakhpur-Kasia/U.P-Bihar border section of NH-28.
-  Complaint received from Sh. Karan Singh Dalal, MLA Haryana about inferior quality of material used in construction of NH-2 in Haryana/UP. Third party tests were conducted to ensure quality of material, which was found to be satisfactory.
-  All the above matters are being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.

|   4. | Sh. Karan Dalal has complaint about poor quality of construction material used in the construction of Six laning of Delhi Agra Section of NH 2. Committee constituted by NHAI HQ visited the site and as per recommendation of the Committee the third party test have been conducted and found that the construction material used are as per standard &specifications of IRC &concession agreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
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|    5 |  A complaint dated 19.04.2016 was received from Advocate Manoranjan regarding various issues related to quality of construction of 4 laning Vallarpadam-Kalamassery section of NH-47 C in Kerala. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.  The complaint is regarding settlement of the road at bridge approaches in Four Lane NH Connectivity to ICTT Vallarpadam on NH-966 A (Old NH-47 C) in Kerala. Rectification has been done by the O&Magency.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|    6 |  A complaint dated 21.06.2017 regarding bad quality of material being used in construction work of Bikaner to Phalodi section on NH-15 in Rajasthan. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.  The complaint regarding damages to some locations of 2 lane of NH 148D during construction stage in rainy season in Rajasthan. Those damages were rectified by the contractor as per specifications during course of construction.  Complaint regarding bad quality of construction of service road in Rajasthan on NH-76. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.                                                                                           |
|    7 | Complaint regarding irregularities in construction of Padhi-Dahod section of NH 113 in the State of Rajasthan & Gujarat. Site has been inspected by the Authority Engineer and officials of NHAI and report has also been submitted. As per report, the work has been found confirming to standards and minor deficiencies have been rectified.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|    8 | Complaint from Shri Ravinder Kumar Pandey, Hon'ble MP regarding rectification or strict action against contractors working on NH 23 construction works making several infringements in work execution in Jharkhand. Authority Engineer inspected and submitted report that all execution works on NH 23 are being carried out at site as per the IRC guidelines /contract agreement/approved design & drawing/codal provisions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|    9 | Matter raised under rule 377 in the Lok Sabha debates dated 15.03.2011 by Shri Uday Pratap Singh, Hon'ble MP (LS) regarding quality of road and need to ensure construction of road as per specified norms in Madhya Pradesh. The irregularities in quality of package ADB-II/C-8 & C-9 of NH 26 was found in the year 2011 for which payment of Rs. 27.6 laks and Rs. 67 lacks withhold with the recommendation of Engineer, which was released after rectification of work.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|   10 |  Complaint of Shri Chunibhai Gohil regarding the poor condition in the stretch of Jetpur Somnath section. The third party inspection done by the CRRI and test result found satisfactory.  Complaint regarding Shapar Veraval bridge material in four lane Jetpur-Gondal-Rajkot section between km 117.600 to 185.000 on NH 8B (New NH 27) in the State of Gujarat. The third party inspection done by the Marwadi University and test result found satisfactory.  Complaint of Shri Kantilal Shivlal Amrutiya regarding poor works of bridge on Bamanbore- Garamore section of NH 8A (NH 27). The third party inspection done by the Marwadi University and test result found satisfactory. |

11.

-  Complaint regarding Drain and service road washed away due to non-quality of work in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.
-  The complaint alleges that the grade of concrete being used in case of construction of bridges seems to be one notch less than approved mix design while 4 laning of Cuddapah - Kurnool section of NH 18 from the existing Km 167.750 to Km 356.502 in the State of Andhra Pradesh. On examination the allegation was found to be false as the works has been inspected periodically and no deviation was found.
-  Complaint  has  been  received  during  O&M  regarding  delay  in  completion  of  Periodical  Overlay Works in 4-laning of Nellore-Tada Section of NH-16. An amount of Rs.6.23 Crs has been imposed on Concessionaire towards damages for delay in completion of Periodical Overlay Works.
-  Complaint regarding poor quality of structure  on NH-7,  Islam Nagar to Kadthal section. Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.
-  Complaints  received  through  NHAI,  HQ  of  Sh.  Manish  Yadav,  Secretary,  Bihar.  Congress Committee, Araria for NH-57 regarding construction of Retaining wall & Drains at Narpatganj in the  month  of  August,  2017.    Retaining  wall  on  purnia  side  has  not  been  completed  due  to  the encroachment  of  locals.  and  there  is  also  no  provision  of  service  road.  In  few  stretches  of  the projects , land acquisition process is under progress.
12.  VIP reference of  Hon'ble  M.P.  Sh.  Sushil  Kumar  Singh  regarding  inferior  quality  material  in  6laning work of Varanasi-Aurangabad section of NH-2. Due to regular heavy traffic of over loaded vehicle carrying sand,  & other mining materials,  It was found difficult to maintain the highways stretch  for  its  design  period  even  after  constructing  the  road  as  prescribed specification  and standards.
-  Complaint  regarding  very  poor  quality  of  construction  in  Sambalpur-Bargarh-Orissa/  Chhattisgarh Border section of NH-6. In accordance with conditions of contract, the Concessionaire is maintaining the project highway during the concession period.  There was surface damage such as rutting in some stretches and Concessionaire has been repairing the damages/resurfacing the damaged stretches as per requirement.
13.  Complaint regarding Sub-standard work at ROB and huge corruption in the construction of the over bridge on NH-316. There is no defect in the construction of the structural part but the only issue is settlement  of  the  embankment  which  occurred  due  to  consolidation  of  the  supporting  ground.  The work  has  been  completed  through  an  expert  agency  and  traffic  is  plying  through  the  ROB  since 13th September,  2016  without  any  problem.  The  work  has  been  done  at  the  risk  and  cost  of  the Concessionaire. Contract with the Concessionaire has been terminated on 20.03.2017 due to several defaults on the part of the Concessionaire.
- 14.

Complaint regarding use of bad quality of aggregate in construction of 4-laning of Simga-Sargaon of NH-200  (Package-II)  from  km  48+580  to  km  91+026  section  of  Raipur-Bilaspur  in  the  State  of Chattisgarh. Authority Engineer vide letter no. 775 dated 31.01.2018 has submitted the report of Third party test conducted at Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory, Mumbai from 11.12.2017 to 19.12.2017 and found the materials as per specifications.

| 15   |  Complaint in project of Rehabilitation and up gradation of NH-221 (New NH-30) from km 71.200 to 121.000 (AP/Telangana border to Rudrampur section) & from km 121.00 to 165.00 ( Rudrampur to Badrachalam/Sarapaka Section) in the state of Telangana to two lanes with paved shoulders under NHDP-IV phase on EPC basis. Central Vigilance team has made certain observations/comments on the quality of the work. Suitable instructions were issued to the EPC contractor and instructions issued by the CVC Team are being strictly followed.  Against poor quality in formation of 4 lane NH road from Islam Nagar to Kadthal of NH-44 by M/s.Patel KNR Heavy Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Matter is being closely monitored and inspected by NHAI.   |
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| 16   | Complaint regarding low quality work by M/s Rajdeep Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. and M/s RNS infrastructure on NH-218 in the state of Karnataka. NLPM inspected the site and the quality of work was found satisfactory and conforms to specifications. Some discrepancy was found in work execution and contractor has been directed to rectify the same.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 17   |  Complaints received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament & MLA of Tiruvannamalai Constituency for delay in completion of road in the stretch of NH-66 in Tamil Nadu. There have been some land issues at the initial period, non-receipt of borrow area permission and financial issues. NHAI requested the Bank to execute the TripartiteAgreement. The agreement is expected to be concluded and the work is likely to be resumed shortly.  Complaint received from Hon'ble Judge of High Court of Madras regarding non-functioning of dedicated lane for exempted vehicles and Ambulances on Pondicherry - Tindivanam section of NH-66 in Tamil Nadu. Action has been taken to provide dedicated lane for exempted vehicle and Ambulances            |
| 18   | Different VIP references, State Govt complaints have been received for delay in construction and Few complaints regarding misbehavior of toll staff have been received mainly for NH-34 in West Bengal. Delay in construction mainly due to non-handing over of land & utility shifting. Issues have been sorted out. Action against the concerned toll plaza staff has been taken by Toll collecting agency.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 19   | Local Administration has raised issues regarding poor maintenance and safety hazards on the project 4 laning of Ludhiana to Talwandi section of NH 95 in Punjab. Due to concessionaire fault work has been stopped during the period 2013-14. Work was restarted in August 2017 and all measures for construction and safety have been taken.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|      |  Few complaints regarding road safety & poor quality service at the toll plazas and they were attended by the Concessionaire religiously in 6-laning of Pune Satara section of NH-4 in Maharashtra. Penalties of Rs. 13,054,183/-have been imposed on Concessionaire for poor maintenance of the Pune Satara section of NH-4 till date.  Bad quality of road complained by Prof. Ravindra Gaikwad, Hon'ble Member of Parliament,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 20   | Osmanabad for 4-laning of Solapur - Maharashtra / Karnataka Border section of NH-9. NHAI appointed IIT Mumbai for inspection of road and after inspection and finding out the reports, NHAI has requested Concessionaire to repair work of distressed/damaged portion of new MCW for project highway. Accordingly, Concessionaire has started the work for out of 20 Km. damaged portion as per IRC 37:2001 and completed 8 Km. up to February 2018 out of 20 Km. and balance is under progress at site. NHAI has appointed Independent Engineer to monitor the same at site and conveyed report accordingly.                                                                                                                                            |