Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a May deadline for prioritizing quality improvements to India's highways, addressing concerns about their condition, especially following the monsoon season. During a recent review of the highway sector, the Prime Minister instructed the Road Transport Ministry to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that ensure accountability and consistency in highway construction and maintenance.

The Prime Minister's directive comes in response to numerous complaints about the poor quality of highways in recent months. Substandard construction by contractors and insufficient supervision by consultants and government engineers have contributed to the decline in project quality. The government has expanded the national highway network from approximately 91,300 km to 1.46 lakh km, marking a 60% increase.

To address these issues, PM Modi has ordered a crackdown on poorly performing and litigating contractors to send a strong message to those not meeting quality standards. A mechanism is to be devised to prevent blacklisted contractors from participating in new bids, even indirectly. Contractors with a history of frequent arbitration will also receive lower ratings.

The Prime Minister has also directed the ministry to investigate potential collusion between contractors and farmers that leads to delays in land acquisition. Furthermore, a study will be conducted to identify the constraints preventing high-speed corridors from achieving the desired speed of 70 kmph. Norms are being revised to require prior approval from authorities before involving any subcontractors in new projects. The practice of converting state highways into national highways is also to be discontinued.

In related news, highway developers have requested the Prime Minister to re-evaluate construction timelines for public-private partnership projects, arguing that the current deadlines are too short to ensure quality and durability. The National Highways Builders Federation has emphasized the need for reasonable timeframes based on the size and complexity of projects. They are seeking the Prime Minister's guidance to ensure timely execution, quality outcomes, and sustained private sector participation in the national highway program.