Lok Sabha Question No. 62 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Irregularities in NHAI Project
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 62

## ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## IRREGULARITIES IN NHAI PROJECT

- *62.  DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any cognizance of the complaints raised regarding irregularities and substandard work done under the project for  widening  of  existing  two  lane  carriageway  to  four  or  six  lane  divided carriageway configuration for Dhule-Pimpalgaon section from kilometre 265 to kilometre 380 of National Highway (NH)-3 in the State of Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  instituted  any  enquiry  to  review  the issue,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  findings  of  the  investigation and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether cases of irregularities in construction of roads by the National Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  and  corruption  through  connivance between officers of  NHAI  and  road  construction  companies  have  come  to the  notice  of  the  Government  during  the  last  ten  years,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) the total number and the details of cases out of them in which action has been taken, case-wise?

## 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. 62 ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2025 ASKED BY DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH REGARDING 'IRREGULARITIES IN NHAI PROJECT'.

- (a) Four laning of Dhule-Pimpalgaon section of NH-3 from km 265.00 to km 380.000 was completed in September 2011 on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) (Toll) Mode. Currently, the project is in O&M phase and the BOT Concession Period  is  up  to  April  2026. As  per  available  records,  no  complaints  were received regarding irregularities and substandard work during the upgradation of the existing 2-lane to 4-lane.
- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) & (d) In the last ten years, the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a total of 6 cases pertaining to alleged irregularities and corruption in the National  Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  projects.  The  details  are enclosed  as  Annexure-A.  Further,  the  details  of  action  taken  against Contractor/ Concessionaire/ Consultant/ Officials in last 03 years are enclosed at Annexure 'B'.

## ANNEXURE-A

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 62 ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2025 ASKED BY DR.  BACHHAV  SHOBHA  DINESH  REGARDING  'IRREGULARITIES  IN  NHAI PROJECT'

Details  of  cases  pertaining  to  alleged  irregularities  and  corruption  in  the NHAI:

|   S. No. | RC No.                                                              | Current Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | RC2182024A0008 dated 03.03.2024                                     | Sanction prosecution under section 19 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018) against the Officers of NHAI has been granted by NHAI.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        2 | RC0082023A0013 dated 23.07.2023                                     | Sanction prosecution under section 19 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018) against the Officers of NHAI has been granted by NHAI.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        3 | RC2182025A0007 dated 22.03.2025                                     | Sanction prosecution under section 19 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018) against the Officers of NHAI has been granted by NHAI.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        4 | RC2172025A017 dated 11.07.2025                                      | Sanction prosecution under section 19 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018) against the Officers of NHAI has been granted by NHAI.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        5 | RC2182024A0012 dated 08.06.2024                                     | Sanction prosecution under section 19 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018) against the Officers of NHAI has been granted by NHAI. Disciplinary proceedings for Major Penalty under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 are also in process against officers involved in the matter. Further, one officer has already been compulsorily retired, vide order dated 27.09.2024 under rule 56(j) of fundamental rules and regulation 10 of NHAI (recruitment, seniority & promotion) 1996. |
|        6 | RC0232022A0010 Dated 23.09.2022 RC0232022A0015 Dated 23.12.2022 has | Sanction prosecution section 19 of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended 2018) against one officer been accorded by NHAI vide order dated 03.02.2023.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

ANNEXURE-B ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 62 ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2025 ASKED BY DR.  BACHHAV  SHOBHA  DINESH  REGARDING  'IRREGULARITIES  IN  NHAI PROJECT' The details  of  actions  taken  against  contractors/  concessionaires  /  consultants  / officials  during last three years due to poor quality / infrastructure failure due to various  reasons,  inter-alia,  including  debarring  from  participating  in  NH  works, penalties, etc., is as under:

| Contractor / Concessionaire              | Contractor / Concessionaire   | Contractor / Concessionaire                  | Consultant                                 | Consultant                 | Consultant                                   | Consultant                                  |
|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| No. of Firms Against Whom Penalty Levied | Monetary Penalty (Rs. Crore)  | No. of Firms Debarred / Terminated Suspended | / No. of Firms Against Whom Penalty Levied | Monetary Penalty (Rs. Cr.) | No. of Firms Debarred / Terminated Suspended | / No. of Key Personnel Suspended / Debarred |
| 55                                       | 298                           | 22                                           | 27                                         | 4                          | 28                                           | 18                                          |

Further,  11  Officers  were  removed  from  service  on  account  of  performance assessment and other disciplinary actions taken on 11 Officers.

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