In a first, ministry to conduct quality checks of new roads

03 Aug 2022 CW Team

Amid rapid highway construction and concerns over whether contractors are adhering to quality specifications, the Road Transport Ministry has for the first time decided to carry out audits of construction quality and safety of completed and under-construction stretches.

To begin with, the ministry has appointed six independent experts to examine different stretches of the flagship Char Dham road project in Uttarakhand. Officials said this system would be institutionalised for the highway sector to ensure that the roads meet the quality parameters set by the government.

According to the ministry’s order, the experts have been tasked to review the official setup of authority engineers, including the competence of the technical persons deployed for projects. Authority or independent engineers have a big role in ensuring that there is no compromise in quality of work and required safety features in a project. The payment to contractors is released by road owning agencies only after the bills are cleared by authority engineers.

There have been some recent cases of newly-built highways getting damaged due to rain in different parts of the country. Last week, Union minister Nitin Gadkari raised concerns over quality of work on National Highway stretches, where the investment is high.

Infrastructure Transport

29 Oct 2025

Punjab, Centre Fast-Track Rajpura-Mohali Rail Line Development

The central government has fast-tracked the construction of the Rajpura-Mohali rail line to enhance connectivity in Punjab. This ambitious infrastructure project, aimed at improving transportation links between Rajpura and Mohali, has been identified as a key step in fostering regional economic growth. Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced the project’s acceleration during a recent assessment of the area. The rail line is expected to play a significant role in reducing travel time, promoting industrial growth, and boosting logistics efficiency in the region. The project,..

NFR Launches Key Railway Projects to Boost BTAD Connectivity

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has unveiled major railway projects to enhance connectivity and economic growth in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). These initiatives align with the national Viksit Bharat vision, focusing on regional development and job creation. A key project is the Wagon Periodic Overhauling (POH) Workshop in Basbari, Kokrajhar. The workshop, costing Rs 2.56 billion in phase one, will initially overhaul 75 wagons per month, scaling up to 250 in future phases. Its location near Basbari station and Rupsi Airport will boost logistics and local employment. ..

Aurangabad Railway Station Renamed to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The Aurangabad Railway Station in Maharashtra has officially been renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Railway Station, according to a release by Central Railway on October 25, 2025. The new station code will be ‘CPSN’. This decision follows the Maharashtra government’s gazette notification on October 15, issued by the BJP-led Mahayuti government. The change aligns with the city’s renaming in 2022 under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The new name honors Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj. The renaming of the railway station comes three..