The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has debarred Theme Engineering Services from participating in bids for highway projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), NHAI, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation and other central government road projects for two years. The consultancy was involved in the construction of the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway. A senior government official said the action followed damage to a section of the expressway. The debarment covers Theme Engineering Services in association with Ishita Info Solutions, as well as both entities in their individual capacities, under powers available to NHAI through the consultancy agreement. According to the official, the penalty was imposed over serious lapses in the independent engineer’s contractual responsibilities. These included failing to exercise the required professional diligence and provide effective supervision and quality surveillance relating to the pavement, embankment and slope protection, reinforced-earth structures, drainage systems and associated safety and maintenance assets. The action also follows NHAI’s decision earlier this month to extend the debarment of Awadh Expressway, a subsidiary and concessionaire of PNC Infratech, to its parent company. PNC Infratech had disclosed the extension in a regulatory communication, while NHAI separately suspended toll collection on the newly opened expressway last month. The 63-km expressway faced widespread complaints over damaged sections and patchwork at several locations. The problems emerged within weeks of the road’s inauguration on July 13, increasing scrutiny of construction quality, supervision and maintenance arrangements on the project. NHAI’s latest order places responsibility on the consultancy that served as the independent engineer and prevents it from seeking work on a broad range of central government road projects during the debarment period. The action is intended to address failures in oversight identified after the deterioration of the expressway became public.