Maintain high-quality standards! Big action - NHAI cracks whip on contractors, consultants, bars some

By Chetan Bhutani

In its endeavour to maintain high-quality standards in highway development, NHAI is taking all steps to ensure adherence to the standards during construction and maintenance of the projects. In order to deal with the lapses in highway development, NHAI is acting tough on the defaulters by taking strict action. NHAI Frames Policy Guidelines to deal with mishaps at the Project Site.

Regarding the collapse of RE Wall on Jetpur-Gondal Section of NH-8B in Gujarat, NHAI has taken action against the defaulting firms and personnel involved in the project as detailed below:

(a) K.N. Mathur, Team Leader cum Senior Highway Engineer in Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd. has been debarred for a period of two years from engagement on NHAI projects to be taken either directly or indirectly, for not performing duties as per consultancy agreement.

(b) R.B. Singh, Sr. Bridge Engineer in Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd. has been debarred for a period of two years from engagement on NHAI projects to be taken either directly or indirectly, for not performing duties as per consultancy agreement.

(c) For defaults in project design and supervision by Independent Consultant, NHAI has debarred Sai Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd. for a period of two years from participating/engagement in any future project/ bid of NHAI projects to be taken directly or indirectly.

(d) For defaults in proper Operation & Maintenance of the project, NHAI has debarred Wadia Techno-Engineering Services Ltd. in association with Varad Associate Ltd. and its directors for a period of one year from participating/engagement in any future project/ bid of NHAI projects to be taken directly or indirectly.

(e) For defaults in proper design, engineering, construction and operation & maintenance of the project, NHAI has debarred Western Gujarat Expressway Ltd. (promoted by Infrastructure Leasing and financial Services Ltd.) and its directors for a period of two years from participating/engagement in any future project/ bid of NHAI projects to be taken directly or indirectly.

Apart from fixing responsibilities, taking action against defaulting firms/ personnel and to have a responsive post-incident mechanism in place, NHAI has also framed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with such untoward incidents.

As per the SOP, in case of a mishaps at the project site, a team of 3 Experts shall be appointed by NHAI to visit the site within 24 hours to carry out technical analysis and anlayse the reasons along with fixing the responsibility for the failure.  The situation shall be monitored on hourly basis.  The team shall submit the preliminary report within 3 days and the final report within 7 days.  Further, the report submitted by the experts shall be examined at NHAI HQ and deterrent action shall be initiated against the individuals/ firms responsible for the incident.  Action against NHAI officers shall also be taken, if found guilty of dereliction of their duty.