Praveen Vashista Appointed Vigilance Commissioner in CVC

19 Jan 2026 CW Team

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has terminated the user fee collection contract of Skylark Infra Engineering following an incident involving alleged assault on a National Highway user at the Bara Fee Plaza in Uttar Pradesh. The incident reportedly occurred on January 14, 2026, at the toll plaza located on the Lucknow–Sultanpur stretch of National Highway-731.

Taking serious note of the incident, NHAI has also issued a Show Cause Notice to the agency, seeking a detailed explanation for the alleged misconduct. In view of the gravity of the matter, the authority has proposed debarring the agency from participating in any NHAI bids or contracts for a period of one year. Additionally, NHAI has initiated the process for forfeiture and encashment of the Bank Guarantee and Performance Security amounting to Rs 50.3 million, which was submitted against the existing contract at the Bara Fee Plaza.

According to NHAI, the reported incident constitutes a serious violation of the terms and conditions of the contract agreement. The agreement clearly stipulates that personnel deployed by the contractor must not indulge in misconduct or misbehaviour with members of the public and are required to maintain strict discipline, decorum and professionalism while discharging their duties.

The authority noted that the incident reflects a gross failure on the part of the agency to ensure proper supervision, discipline and adherence to contractual obligations at the toll plaza. Such lapses, NHAI said, undermine public trust and compromise the safety and dignity of National Highway users.

Reiterating its commitment to providing a safe, secure and hassle-free commuting experience, NHAI emphasised that it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of indiscipline or misconduct at toll plazas. The authority added that strict action will continue to be taken against agencies found violating contractual norms or compromising user safety.

Infrastructure Transport

19 Jan 2026

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