Lok Sabha Question No. 268 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Section of NH-48
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 268 ANSWERED ON 7 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD SECTION OF NH-48

- †*268.        SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether large potholes are formed on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad stretch of National Highway (NH)-48 (Delhi-Chennai) every year and it fails to/is not able to withstand even the first spell of monsoon rains;
- (b)     whether any investigation has been carried out/undertaken to ascertain the  reasons  behind  the  consistently  poor  condition  of  this  highway  during monsoon, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to rectify the same;
- (c) the reasons for the failure to maintain the road quality to satisfactory/required  standards  despite  multiple  toll  hikes  implemented  on this route in recent years; and
- (d)      whether  there  is  any  mechanism  to  ensure  accountability  for  the maintenance of highways and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against the defaulting agencies during the last five years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (d)        A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 268 ANSWERED ON 7 TH  AUGUST, 2025 ASKED BY SHRI  PATEL  UMESHBHAI  BABUBHAI  REGARDING  'MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD SECTION OF NH-48'. (a) to (c) The section of NH-48 from Vadodara to Maharashtra border in State of Gujarat lies in a high rainfall region and carries nearly 1.5 Lakhs Passenger Car  Unit  (PCU)  traffic.  Since  this  stretch  carries  very  heavy  commercial traffic,  it  is  more  susceptible  to  surface  defect  especially  during  monsoon season.  The damages and pothole formations have been observed at some locations  on  the  Vadodara-Bharuch-Surat  -Vapi  stretch  of  NH-48  in  Gujarat State,  due  to  continuous  heavy  rain  complemented  with  heavy  commercial traffic  on  the  highway  stretch.  However,  the  potholes  are  regularly  being attended by Maintenance agency to keep the stretch in motorable conditions. Prior to 2021, on account of very high commercial traffic & huge rainfall and  pavement  distress  was  noticed  on  bituminous  pavement  of  Achhad  to Dahisar section of NH-48 in state of Maharashtra. Therefore, as a long term solution, the work of white topping of entire section of 121 Km stretch was sanctioned. This  white  topping  work  is  under  progress  and  targeted  for  its completion  by  November  2025.  The  lane  by  lane  work,  issue  of  traffic congestion,  pre-mature  running  of  vehicle  over  fresh/under  curing  concrete etc  led  to  localised  failures  in  white  topping.   The  potholes  in  the  white topping are being attended by the white topping Contractor by replacing the damaged panels. In addition to this during  on-going  monsoon, the potholes are also repaired by mastic asphalt. During construction, the domain experts from Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay have been consulted. The methodology and on-site work of repair and replacement of damaged panels has also been reviewed by IIT Bombay. To reduce traffic load on NH-48, a parallel corridor-the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway-is  also  under  construction.  Upon  its  completion,  a  significant portion of the traffic is expected to be diverted from NH - 48. In addition to

this,  based  on  site  requirements,  additional  works  such  as  widening  of bridges, construction of new Vehicular Underpasses/Light Vehicular Underpasses  (VUPs/LVUPs)/flyovers,  and  provision  of  service  roads  have already been sanctioned on existing NH-48, and execution of these works is in progress.

- (d)  The  lapses  in  maintenance  of  highway  are  being  dealt  with  applicable penal provisions in the Contract including taking up the works on the Risks & Cost of non-performing contractors. The details of action taken against the defaulting agencies during the last five years are as under:

|   Sl No | Section of NH-48            | Details of Action taken against the defaulting agencies during the last five years                                                                                                                                     |
|---------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Ahmedabad- Vadodara Section | Damages/penalty of Rs. 27.67 Crore imposed on Contractor/concessionaire.                                                                                                                                               |
|       2 | Vadodara- Bharuch Section   | Damages/penalty of Rs. 0.35 crore is imposed on Contractor                                                                                                                                                             |
|       3 | Surat to Vapi Section       | The Performance Bank Guarantee amounting to Rs. 2.90 Crore has been encashed. A penalty of Rs. 9.02 crore has been imposed, and a recovery of Rs. 13.84 crore has been counterclaimed through arbitration proceedings. |
|       4 | Achhad Dahisar section      | to The Contractor has been debarred by NHAI from 22.04.2025 to 23.11.2025 for default in the contract. NHAI is also taking up rectification on risk & cost of defaulting contractor.                                   |

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