Centre Deploys Experts to Elevate Road Quality

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is initiating a nationwide effort to elevate highway construction quality by sharing its best practices with state governments. Senior officials and experienced engineers will be deployed to state capitals to provide guidance on project report preparation, contractor selection, and advanced construction models, including green highways.

States are being encouraged to adopt national digital platforms for project planning, construction tracking, land acquisition, accident reporting, and contractor evaluations. This strategic push follows earlier consultations with states, with Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar reportedly showing initial interest.

Industry consultants offer mixed reactions. While acknowledging the potential for increased transparency and improved project appraisal through shared standards and data-driven decision-making, they also highlight the diverse challenges faced by different states. This suggests that a tailored approach, focusing on regulatory convergence rather than absolute uniformity, might be more effective.