Nitin Gadkari Warns Consultants Over Faulty Project Reports Behind Highway Accidents
Gadkari flags faulty DPRs over highway accidents and deaths.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday blamed consultants involved in preparing defective detailed project reports (DPRs) for contributing to accidents and deaths on highways. Addressing FICCI's 4th Edition of the Tunnels & Bridges Conference 2026 in New Delhi, Gadkari described consultants responsible for poor-quality DPRs as “culprits” and stressed the need for greater accountability in infrastructure planning.
Gadkari alleged that inadequate DPRs are contributing to serious problems on India's roads and claimed that consultants sometimes prepare project reports using tools such as Google without sufficient ground-level assessment. He cited figures of around five lakh road accidents and 1.8 lakh deaths, linking the scale of the problem to deficiencies in road planning and project reports.
The minister also warned contractors against compromising construction quality after securing infrastructure projects. He stated that contractors would face greater scrutiny through both performance and financial audits, with the results being used to assess the quality of their work and compliance with project requirements.
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Gadkari indicated that contractors found responsible for poor construction could face penalties, including blacklisting. He stressed that deficiencies in infrastructure projects have consequences beyond financial losses, as poor-quality construction and planning can affect road safety and potentially contribute to loss of life. The government is also considering a rating system for contractors and DPR consultants, according to Gadkari. Under the proposed approach, their performance and quality of work would be assessed and the ratings could influence whether they are permitted to participate in future government infrastructure bids.
The minister's remarks come amid the government's focus on improving the quality and safety of road and infrastructure projects across the country. By linking future bidding opportunities to performance assessments, the proposed system could place greater emphasis on accountability among consultants and contractors involved in highway and major infrastructure development.
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