The Uttar Pradesh government has moved to strengthen monitoring of large infrastructure projects by mandating third-party quality audits for projects costing more than Rs one billion (Rs one bn). The initiative, launched by the state Planning Department and formalised in an order from the Finance Department, assigns premier technical institutes to conduct independent inspections. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Indian Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (IIT-BHU) and Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) are among the institutions listed.\n\nThe order specifies that audits will cover roads, bridges, sewerage, water supply and other public utility projects across the state. IIT Kanpur will inspect projects above Rs one billion in districts across the Kanpur, Lucknow, Banda, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Agra, Jhansi and Devipatan divisions. IIT-BHU will oversee audits in the Basti, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi and Mirzapur divisions while IIT Roorkee will be responsible for the Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Meerut and Aligarh divisions.\n\nA third-party quality audit is intended to provide an independent assessment of a project's design, construction processes, materials and compliance with prescribed technical and safety standards. Teams from the institutes will inspect projects at stages ranging from commencement through completion and will prepare detailed reports identifying defects and recommending corrective measures. The audits are designed to enhance transparency in project monitoring and to reduce potential conflicts of interest in oversight.\n\nThe decision follows a recent incident in which a section of the Greenfield National Elevated Expressway in Unnao caved in 12 days after its inauguration, prompting renewed scrutiny of construction quality. Officials said the audit framework aims to improve accountability and to ensure that large public infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh meet required quality and safety standards. Implementation details and timelines will be managed by the Planning Department and the assigned institutes.