NHAI Suspends Officials Over Pavement Damage on NH-754K in Gujarat

04 Jul 2025 CW Team

The affected segment lies within Package-4 (Kilana to Santalpur) and is being constructed by M/s CDS Infra Projects Limited. The damage spans 1.35 km on the left-hand side (LHS) across 10 patches and 1.36 km on the right-hand side (RHS) over 5 patches of the total 130 km corridor in Gujarat.

Causes of failure and current status

The failure of the pavement crust has been attributed to defects in the Aggregate Inter Layer (AIL), Cement Treated Base (CTB) and inadequate drainage. The project is being executed in Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode and the completion certificate has not yet been issued.

The contractor, M/s CDS Infra Projects Limited, has been debarred with immediate effect from participating in ongoing and future tenders. A show cause notice has been issued for debarment, along with a monetary penalty of Rs 2.8 crore. The contractor is now undertaking rectification work at their own risk and cost.

Disciplinary action and investigation

The Authority’s Engineer, M/s SA Infra (in association with M/s Upham), has also been debarred from current and future bids, and issued a show cause notice. In addition, the NHAI Project Director in Palanpur has been placed under suspension.

To investigate the matter, NHAI has constituted expert committees comprising retired and serving professors from IIT-BHU, IIT-Delhi, and IIT-Gandhinagar. These committees are conducting site inspections, collecting samples, and will recommend remedial measures based on detailed testing and analysis.

The authority has reiterated its commitment to maintaining construction quality and holding all stakeholders accountable for lapses.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken strict action following reports of distressed pavement conditions on parts of the six-lane Sanchore–Santalpur section of the Amritsar–Jamnagar Economic Corridor (NH-754K) in Gujarat. The affected segment lies within Package-4 (Kilana to Santalpur) and is being constructed by M/s CDS Infra Projects Limited. The damage spans 1.35 km on the left-hand side (LHS) across 10 patches and 1.36 km on the right-hand side (RHS) over 5 patches of the total 130 km corridor in Gujarat. Causes of failure and current status The failure of the pavement crust has been attributed to defects in the Aggregate Inter Layer (AIL), Cement Treated Base (CTB) and inadequate drainage. The project is being executed in Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode and the completion certificate has not yet been issued. The contractor, M/s CDS Infra Projects Limited, has been debarred with immediate effect from participating in ongoing and future tenders. A show cause notice has been issued for debarment, along with a monetary penalty of Rs 2.8 crore. The contractor is now undertaking rectification work at their own risk and cost. Disciplinary action and investigation The Authority’s Engineer, M/s SA Infra (in association with M/s Upham), has also been debarred from current and future bids, and issued a show cause notice. In addition, the NHAI Project Director in Palanpur has been placed under suspension. To investigate the matter, NHAI has constituted expert committees comprising retired and serving professors from IIT-BHU, IIT-Delhi, and IIT-Gandhinagar. These committees are conducting site inspections, collecting samples, and will recommend remedial measures based on detailed testing and analysis. The authority has reiterated its commitment to maintaining construction quality and holding all stakeholders accountable for lapses.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Infrastructure Energy

06 Apr 2026

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

Real Estate

06 Apr 2026

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..