Lok Sabha Question No. 855 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Paithan-Pandharpur Section of NH
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. 855 ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## PAITHAN-PANDHARPUR SECTION OF NH

†855.   SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:

Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  is  aware  that  the  original  earthwork  and concrete work on the Bodhegaon-Dighol road in Beed district, Maharashtra, in the Paithan-Pandharpur section of National Highway NH -752E/561A  have  been  carried  out  contrary  to  Ministry  of  Road Transport and Highways standards leading to serious cracks, frequent accidents  and  the  death  of  numerous  citizens,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether contractors have been illegally benefited by the misuse of provisions  such  as  'change  in  scope',  'additional  items',  'disscope' and 'time overrun' in the related construction works and public funds have been misused with the connivance of executive officials;
- (c) if so, whether  the Ministry is considering to constitute an independent high -level inquiry committee in this regard; and
- (d)  whether the Government proposes to formulate a concrete policy to  provide  compensation  to  the  families  of  accident  victims  on  this road, 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 55.94 km and Shirur to Kharda having length of  54.11  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. Of these, 376 panels have already been replaced/repaired,  and  rectification  on  the  remaining  164  panels  is currently  underway.  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,  and  for  the period  beyond  this,  escalation  has  been  frozen.  No  undue  benefits have been given to the contractors against the provisions of contract agreement. As on date, work in 48.61  km  out  of  55.94  km  length  of Paithan to Shirur section and 48 km out of 54.11 km length in Shirur to Kharda section have been completed. In balance stretches in both the sections,  work  is  held  up  due  to  disputes  on  existing  NH  RoW.  The balance work, to the extant feasible, is scheduled to be completed by 15.02.2026.

(c)       The  quality  audit  of  the  project  has  been  entrusted  to IIT

Bombay. Action would be taken as per the report of IIT Bombay. (d) 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).

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