Government Organization Criticizes National Highways Authority of India, Calls for In-Depth Examination of Operations
Critical Review of NHAI's Functioning in Kerala Uncovers Major Flaws
The Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has delivered a scathing critique of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) functioning in Kerala, highlighting serious design flaws, construction lapses, and problematic subcontracting practices in national highway projects.
The PAC's report, presented in June, has raised key concerns regarding the NHAI's work in the state. These concerns include design flaws, construction and supervision lapses, and subcontracting issues that have compromised project quality and accountability.
Design Flaws and Construction Lapses
The NHAI admitted lapses in the design of highways in Kasaragod, Malappuram, and Kannur districts. The most notable issue was the collapse of a newly constructed highway section at Kooriyad in Malappuram district, which was attributed to errors in the design stemming from inadequate assessment of soil conditions and water flow.
Multiple cracks and partial collapses have been reported on NH 66 sections under construction or widening, raising safety concerns.
Subcontracting Issues
The PAC strongly criticized the subcontracting practice for compromising project quality and accountability. An example is the Kadambattukonam–Kazhakkoottam stretch where the main contract was worth around ₹3684.98 crore, but the subcontract was awarded for merely ₹795 crore (about 54% of the tender value on average in Kerala projects).
Toll Collection Practices
The committee recommended halting toll collection until service roads were completed and no tolls should be charged on incomplete or impassable stretches such as Aroor and Paliyekkara. They also proposed establishing a regulatory authority to oversee toll rates for greater transparency.
Key Recommendations and Impacts
Key recommendations from the PAC include a thorough performance audit of all NHAI highway works in Kerala, blacklisting defaulting companies, appointing an independent agency to evaluate NHAI’s functioning in Kerala, strengthening design and approval processes, and improving oversight of subcontracting and tendering.
The PAC’s report has led to increased scrutiny of ongoing and future highway projects, temporary halts to toll collection on problematic stretches, and a mandate to reconstruct collapsed sections at the contractor’s expense with full government oversight. These actions aim to improve safety, reduce corruption, and restore public trust in the government's highway infrastructure development.
Political Implications
The issue is expected to see political rivals taking on each other, with PAC Chairman, K.C.Venugopal, announcing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of NHAI's operations due to the committee's detailed perusal. In June, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state Public Works Minister P.A Mohammed Riyas rushed to Delhi to secure an assurance from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the rebuilding of damaged stretches and timely completion of the project.
In summary, the PAC’s critique exposed critical design defects, lax construction supervision, and troubling subcontracting practices in Kerala’s national highway projects. It resulted in strong recommendations for audits, regulatory reforms, and accountability measures that are shaping the future execution of highway infrastructure in the state.
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