The National Highways Authority of India announced on September 30 that it is undertaking special quality inspections of 17 highway projects under construction. A Ministry of Road Transport and Highways release says the additional scrutiny targets projects awarded at prices more than 15% below the estimated cost. PTI independently reported the announcement the same day.
The selected projects must also have construction costs above ₹500 crore and physical progress between 35% and 80%. They span Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, covering new corridors, bypasses and road-widening works. Selection for inspection is not a finding that a project is defective.
Teams will compare construction with approved drawings, technical specifications, contract terms and quality plans. Checks will cover materials, workmanship, construction methods and sampling records, along with road safety, traffic management and applicable environmental safeguards. NHAI says it has assembled a pool of 39 experienced and retired government engineers to lead the specialist teams, supported by technical experts.
The first inspection round is targeted for completion by December 2026. Different expert teams are to return six months later. The ministry says work that fails contractual standards will require corrective action under the relevant contract. The announcement supplements routine monitoring; it does not publish project-specific inspection findings or identify contractors as having committed misconduct.