Contractor for Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway debarred for shoddy white-topping work

Vasai: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has debarred Nirmal BuildiInfra Pvt Ltd — the contractor that bagged project for white-topping on NH48 (Mumbai Ahmedabad National Highway) — for its sub-standard works. This means the contractor will no longer be able to participate in any of the NHAI projects till the time its debarment is revoked.

A letter regarding this action was issued to the contractor on April 22 this year. The debarment has now been extended for another six months with a review pending next month after which the NHAI will decide on whether or not to revoke the debarment. Till then, the contractor will continue to complete its ongoing white topping work.


Activists have welcomed NHAI's move, but expressed displeasure over not keeping the common man informed about the debarment notice via postors or other means.

Confirming the debarment, Suhas Chitnis, project director, NHAI, said that the debarment is till month-end (Nov) and thereafter there would be a review. He also confirmed that the work done in the white-topping project was not as per the standards mentioned in the agreement.

The debarment letter specifically mentions that during the project, the performance of the contractor has not been found satisfactory, especially in respect of performance of the pavement, quality control, workmanship, roughness on the finished surface, safety management and traffic management at the site. The letter also mentions the presence of potholes, severe cracking of the surface and inadequate safety measures. It also mentions that immediate action was not taken up by the contractor leading to increase in severity of the defects and wide criticism of the Authority in the media and local administration.

Sushant Patil, president Bhumiputra Foundation, said that such debarment notices should not be kept secret and should be pasted on toll booths for the general public. This, he said, proves that the contractor is responsible for highway accidents during the time that the white topping project was on, for traffic snarls lasting two-three days, for environmental pollution and shoddy work.

Harbans Sing Nanade, highway activist, said the contractor should be blacklisted and the remaining work should be given to someone else as he has been debarred for the last nine months, diminishing its credibility. The NHAI should also immediately reduce the speed limit on this highway to 80kmph, which had been raised to 100kmph.

Nirmal BuildiInfra Pvt Ltd did not respond to calls and messages.



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