NHAI to Conduct Quality Checks on 17 Low-Bid Highway Projects

The inspections will check construction quality, materials, safety measures and contract compliance, with re-inspections planned after six months.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced special quality inspections for 17 under-construction National Highway projects where the accepted bids were more than 15% below the estimated project cost. The move is aimed at identifying construction-related issues early and ensuring that the required quality standards are followed.

The first round of inspections is scheduled to be completed by December 2026. NHAI will then conduct another inspection after six months using a different team of experts. These checks will be carried out in addition to the authority's regular quality monitoring process.

17 Highway Projects Selected for Special Inspection

Table of Contents
1. 17 Highway Projects Selected for Special Inspection
2. Expert Teams to Check Highway Construction
3. Quality, Materials and Safety Under Review
4. Why Highway Quality Checks Matter for Commercial Vehicles
5. Re-Inspection Planned After Six Months

The 17 projects were selected using three conditions. Each project has a construction cost of more than ₹500 crore, the tender discount is above 15%, and physical progress is between 35% and 80%.

The selected projects cover Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The projects include greenfield corridors, access-controlled roads, bypasses and four- and six-laning works.

Expert Teams to Check Highway Construction

NHAI has created specialised inspection teams for these projects. The teams will be led by 39 experienced and retired engineers from government organisations, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence and state Public Works Departments.

Technical experts will also assist the inspection teams during the quality checks.

Quality, Materials and Safety Under Review

The inspection teams will compare the ongoing construction work with approved drawings, technical specifications, contract conditions and project-specific quality plans.

The checks will cover construction materials, workmanship, construction methods and sampling and testing records. Road safety measures, traffic management and environmental safeguards will also be checked wherever applicable. Any work that does not meet the required standards will be followed up for corrective action under the relevant contract provisions.

Why Highway Quality Checks Matter for Commercial Vehicles

Highway construction and maintenance directly affect the movement of commercial vehicles across India. Better road quality can support smoother movement for trucks, buses, mini trucks and pickups.

For freight operators, highway conditions can influence travel time, vehicle operating conditions and connectivity between industrial and commercial centres. Regular inspections can also help identify construction issues while projects are still underway.

Re-Inspection Planned After Six Months

After the first inspection round, NHAI plans to re-inspect the selected projects after six months. A different team of experts will carry out the second round.

According to NHAI, the exercise will also help identify common quality issues, construction practices and areas where greater accountability may be required from contractors, consultants and other project stakeholders.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many highway projects will NHAI inspect?

Ans. NHAI will conduct special quality inspections on 17 under-construction National Highway projects.

2. Why were these 17 projects selected?

Ans. The projects have construction costs above ₹500 crore, tender discounts of more than 15% and physical progress between 35% and 80%.

3. When will the first inspection round be completed?

Ans. NHAI plans to complete the first round of special inspections by December 2026.

4. What will NHAI check during the inspection?

Ans. Teams will check construction materials, workmanship, construction methods, testing records, safety measures, traffic management and other applicable requirements.

5. Will the projects be inspected again?

Ans. Yes. NHAI plans to conduct re-inspections after six months using a different team of experts.

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