Latest news with #NationalHighwayAuthorityofIndia
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
NHAI delays causing Odisha economic loss
Chop-and-change is perhaps the best way to describe the National Highway Authority of India's approach in Odisha. Its latest casualty is the coastal highway project under the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojna. After years of delay, the key economic corridor has again suffered a setback with the agency cancelling its tender last week. In January, the NHAI invited bids for a 346-km, four-lane stretch to be executed in four phases at an estimated cost of `7,040 crore. Four months later, it has decided to revisit the plan. Unviable traffic volume seems to have become the trigger for the change of mind after all these years—the NHAI is now considering a two-lane, access-controlled carriageway. The 451-km coastal highway was approved in 2018 and sent for the Odisha government's approval. The state suggested that Chilika lagoon be kept out of the alignment. The next year, more protected areas along the route were excluded and the length was revised to 377 km. Local resistance and other challenges prompted further changes and, finally, a 346-km project was finalised, requiring yet another detailed project report. So the state is assured of more delays and higher costs as statutory clearances will have to be secured.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Delay in Pudukottai NH four-laning irks road users
TIRUCHY: With the long-pending proposal to upgrade the Tiruchy-Pudukkottai National Highway from two lanes to four still stuck in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage, road users and activists have urged the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite the process. Although the 90-kilometre stretch between Tiruchy and Karaikudi was widened with paved shoulders in 2021, the plan to fully convert it into a four-lane highway has seen little progress since. According to sources, the DPR preparation has been ongoing for years, with no firm timeline for when work will commence. 'The DPR is currently being prepared but has faced delays due to various factors. It is likely to be finalised by 2026, and once that happens, four-laning work will begin immediately,' a senior NHAI official told TNIE.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
One Side Of Mankapur RoB Closed For Repair, Traffic Cops Don't Know
1 2 Nagpur: A contractor appointed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), responsible for the maintenance of Mankapur flyover, has closed one side of the flyover to repair cracks that surfaced more than a month ago. The contractor has not taken permission from the traffic department to close one side (Katol to Nagpur) of the flyover, said sources. The repairs will take 100 days. The contractor's move to stop traffic movement by closing one side of the flyover without the nod of traffic department has irked cops as well as citizens, who fear that taking such steps without proper permission can lead to accidents. The closure led to a massive traffic jam on the flyover as one side is accommodating two-way traffic, and the road below the flyover is already narrow. The Mankapur flyover, built on National Highway 69 as part of the Nagpur-Betul road widening project, has developed cracks for the second time. TOI had reported that cracks have appeared on the flyover and that the contractor has closed a part of the flyover for repair work, but traffic movement was continuing. At that time, the contractor had not taken permission to carry out the work. ACP (traffic) Madhuri Bawiskar said that the contractor has not taken permission from the traffic department to close one side of the flyover. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Conheça o óculos militar que os homens 40+ querem Óculos Max Saiba Mais Undo "We will now call NHAI officials and the contractor, and ask how can they close one side of the flyover for traffic movement without taking permission from traffic police," said the official. A senior NHAI official confirmed that the contractor is yet to receive permission from the traffic department. "The contractor has applied for the permission and is likely to get it soon. The repair work will take around 100 days, during which one side of the flyover will remain closed," said the official. Sources in the NHAI said that after the cracks were spotted, an inspection was carried out. "The contractor initially wanted to repair the cracks but will now completely replace the 25 to 30-metre span. The repairs would have decreased the strength of the flyover, which is why the span is being replaced," said NHAI sources. The flyover, built as part of the Rs1,800 crore Nagpur-Betul Project, was opened in 2014. The flyover is supposed to be maintained until 2032 by the contractor who built it.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
NHAI chairperson reviews progress of National Highway projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam
Santosh Kumar Yadav, chairperson of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) arrived in Kerala on Sunday to evaluate the progress of various National Highway projects in the State. Mr. Yadav led the comprehensive inspection of project stretches in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, focusing on structurally sensitive areas and zones prone to drainage issues and water-related vulnerabilities. The inspection also covered key locations such as Enchakkal, Kazhakuttom, Chembakamangalam, Kottiyam, and Mevaram. These sites include vertical high cut sections and areas requiring urgent evaluation of stability and water flow management. The chairperson was accompanied by technical experts from the concessionaire, independent engineer, project director of Thiruvananthapuram and NHAI regional officer, Kerala. To comprehensively assess the progress on various National Highway projects in the State, a high-level review meeting has been scheduled. This meeting will include all NHAI project directors, concessionaires, consultants, and contractors involved in the implementation of National Highway projects across Kerala. Key discussion points will include expediting project timelines, enhancing construction quality, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and minimising public inconvenience. The NHAI chairperson will also meet the Chief Secretary to address critical challenges affecting National Highway development. The meeting will focus on resolving systemic bottlenecks, improving coordination between agencies, and planning strategic interventions for smoother execution of current and future projects.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
NH-66 stretch collapse in Kerala: NHAI suspends its project director, asks contractor to bear costs
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has suspended its project director and terminated the service of a site engineer in connection with the collapse of a stretch of National Highway-66 at Kooriyad in Kerala's Malappuram district. The NHAI also said that the contractor or concessionaire of the project will have to clear the debris and reconstruct the flyover at their own cost. On May 19, a 250-metre stretch of the elevated highway at Kooriyad caved in. On the basis of an assessment by a team of experts, the NHAI said the cave-in was most likely due to inability of the foundation soil to support the high embankment load. The 39.7-km project from Ramanattukara to the start of the Valanchery bypass of NH-66 is 99 per cent complete. The total cost of the project is Rs 2,368 crore. The NHAI said the team of experts, comprising Dr Anil Dixit of IIT Delhi; Dr Jimmy Thomas of IIT-Kanpur; Dr K Mohan Krishna of IIT-Gandhinagar and retired IIT-Delhi professor G V Rao, was constituted the day the cave-in occurred. 'The expert team visited the site on May 21 to analyse the failure and recommend remedial measures. The preliminary assessment suggests that the failure is due to inability of the foundation soils to support the high embankment loads,' said an official. After the incident, NHAI suspended the Hyderabad-based concessionaire of the project, KNR Constructions, from participating in future bids, along with a show-cause notice to levy monetary penalty of Rs 11.8 crore and debarment for up to one year. 'The project manager of the concessionaire was also suspended. The concessionaire is also required to clear the debris and rectify the damage by constructing a new flyover at their own cost (Rs 80 crore approx),' said the official. Apart from the concessionaire, the independent engineer of the project, Highway Engineering Consultant, and its team leader was also suspended. On May 29, NHAI issued a show-cause notice to design consultant Strata Geosystem and HBS Infra Engineers and safety consultant Sri Infotech for debarment up to one year and a penalty of Rs 20 lakh. After the incident, on May 24, NHAI also constituted an additional expert committee comprising a retired CRRI scientist, an associate professor from IIT-Palakkad and Deputy Director General from Geological Survey of India (GSI) to assess other potentially vulnerable locations of reinforced soil (RS) walls and slope protection works in 17 ongoing projects on NH-66 in Kerala. Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal correspondent with The Indian Express, Business Bureau. He covers India's two key ministries- Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. He frequently uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act for his stories, which have resulted in many impactful reports. ... Read More
