National Highway with total 6,604 KM length Constructed till Feb 2017: Union Ministry

New Delhi: The target of construction of National Highways in India is 15,000 km, of which 6,604 km have been completed till Feb in the current financial year 2016-17. The slow speed of construction of National Highways(NHs) are mainly due to land acquisition, utility shifting, non-availability of soil, aggregates, poor performance of contractors, environment, forest, wildlife clearance, ROB and RUB issue with Railways, Public agitation for additional facilities, arbitration/contractual disputes with contractors and others.

There is a well-established mechanism for monitoring and testing of quality of construction and development of work of National Highways (NHs) by engaging a consultancy firm of International and National repute for every project to ensure quality construction. They supervise, monitor and conduct tests as per procedures laid down in various codes published by Indian Road Congress, specifications for Road and Bridge works and National Highway Authority India Quality Manuals and others, said Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways in a release.

Apart from this, field units and Quality Division of Ministry, NHAI and State PWD also conduct inspection at various project sites regularly to monitor the quality of work. Quality auditors are also engaged from time to time for conducting quality audits of the project work. On observation of any violation, action against the defaulter is taken as per provision in the agreement.The ministry has empaneled National Level Project Monitors for monitoring of critical and languishing National Highways projects all over the country.