Gadkari issues warning to contractors over poor road maintenance

18 Sep 2024 CW Team

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari strongly criticized agencies and contractors for their failure to maintain roads adequately. He stated that while good operators would be rewarded, those delivering poor work would be "driven out of the system."

"We will not spare you. We will ensure that the bank guarantees of those performing inadequately are forfeited, and you will be blacklisted from applying for new tenders," he warned.

Gadkari’s remarks followed his observations of the poorly maintained Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which he used to reach Ghaziabad for the inauguration of a tree plantation drive titled 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' under the 'Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 - Swabhav Swachhata - Sanskar Swachhata' campaign.

During his speech, the minister highlighted the government's developmental achievements, referencing data and future goals for the infrastructure sector. He also underscored the importance of pro-environment initiatives, such as biofuels, and mentioned ongoing studies aimed at reducing pollution.

However, he did not hold back in expressing his dissatisfaction with the condition of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. "After a long time using this road, I can see much work has been done, but I believe many who aren’t performing should retire, some contractors should be blacklisted, and bank guarantees of others should be forfeited," he remarked.

He emphasized the need for well-maintained roads, addressing the audience directly: "The roads should be in good condition. I saw the road today; it's very poorly maintained. We will not spare you."

Conversely, Gadkari assured that agencies and operators maintaining roads effectively would receive special recognition from the government.

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..