NEW DELHI: Every pothole will be accounted for, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday, warning contractors and consultants that poor-quality work is going to invite strict action, including blacklisting, banning and penalties that could hit their businesses and drive down their share prices.Speaking at a conference organised by industry body CII, Gadkari said he had personally monitored highway maintenance over the past few months. “Social media posts have been helpful in flagging quality issues on highway stretches, and I urge the public to post these problems on social media so that officials cannot hide them. Contractors, consultants and officials have been exposed. I don’t spare anyone. Now contractors are afraid of being blacklisted and of a fall in their share prices.
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I will review all projects and will not compromise on quality at any cost,” he said.The minister claimed that his close monitoring had led to a 30% reduction in such issues. He added that Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) deployed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the road transport and highways ministry record quality-related issues, with every pothole being documented.Gadkari further said he had directed officials to adopt a more lenient approach towards speeding on expressways, including by not issuing challans to cars travelling at 120 kmph.“Some people are receiving notices on the road due to speed. I have asked that no notices be sent if someone exceeds the speed limit by 20%; let them go. If someone goes beyond that, issue a challan,” he said.
