Lok Sabha Question No. 4819 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Faulty Construction on NH 752E/561A
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4819

## ANSWERED ON 21 ST  AUGUST, 2025

## FAULTY CONSTRUCTION ON NH 752E/561A

†4819. Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane:

Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  construction  of  the Paithan-Pandharpur section of National Highway (NH)-752E/561A particularly from Bodhegaon to Dighol ( Beed district, Maharashtra) has not been carried out as per the laid down standards resulting into severe cracks  and  several  fatalities  in  road  accidents  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  provisions  such  as  'change  in  scope',  'additional items', 'descope' and 'time extension' in this project have been misused to provide undue benefits to the contractors with the connivance of the concerned officials and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering formation of an independent  high-level  committee  to  investigate  the  entire  matter  and also preparing any concrete plan to provide compensation to the victim families and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) The construction of Paithan-Pandharpur section of National Highway  (NH)-752E/561A  particularly  from  Bodhegaon  to  Dighol  (Beed district, Maharashtra) has been taken up in two packages i.e. Paithan to Shirur having length of 55.937 km and Shirur to Kharda having length of 54.109 km. The construction works on this NH stretch have been carried out  as  per  the  quality  standards &  design  specified  by Indian  Roads

Congress  (IRC).  However,  cracks  have  been  observed  in  about  540 number of concrete panels out of 48,908 number of concrete panels and the contractor has been directed to replace/repair these cracked panels. However, no fatalities have been reported on account of above cracked panels. (b)      The  'change  in  scope'  and  'additional  items'  have  been  executed for an amount of Rs. 11.36 crores in Paithan to Shirur section against the total awarded civil cost of Rs.242.82 crore and Rs. 4.56 crores against a total  awarded  civil  cost  of  245.12  crores  in  Shirur  to  Kharda  involving additional culverts, change in type of culverts from hume pipe culverts to  concrete  box  culverts,  four-laning  in  Patoda  built-up  section  and bituminous pavement instead of concrete pavement in forest stretches have  been  undertaken  as  per  the  site  conditions  in  accordance  with provisions  of  the  Contract  Agreement.  Additionally,  4.44  km  length  of Shirur to Kharda section overlapping with already sanctioned Chumbali to Manjarsunbha section of NH-548D has been 'de-scoped' in this project. Further,  'time  extension'  has  been  granted  upto  31.03.2022  on account  of  disputes  on  existing  NH  Right  of  Way  (RoW),  delays  in acquisition  of  additional  land  and  COVID-19  pandemic.    No  undue benefits  have  been  given  to  the  contractors  against  the  provisions  of contract agreement. As on date, work in 48.61 km length of Paithan to Shirur  section  and  48  km  in  Shirur  to  Kharda  section  have  been completed. The balance stretches in both the sections, where work has not  been  executed  due  to  disputes  on  existing  NH  RoW,  are  under consideration  for  deletion  from  the  scope  of  work  of  the  respective contractors.

(c)     The quality audit of the project has been ordered and action would be taken as per the report.  As regards to compensation to road accident victims,  Government  has  issued notification  dated  25th February,  2022 mandating  the  procedure  for  detailed  investigation  of  road  accidents, the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) and its reporting, along with  timelines  for  different  stakeholders  and  for  faster  settlements  of claims by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT).

*****