Now Reading: Centre may test highways with traffic for months before launch
-
01
Centre may test highways with traffic for months before launch
The government is considering allowing normal traffic on newly built highway stretches for two to three months as a trial run before their official inauguration, following complaints of cracks, potholes and premature failures on several expressways. The idea was discussed during a meeting on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project chaired by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari last week, according to officials.
Officials said extended trial runs have been used before on sections of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway and the Dwarka Expressway tunnel. A trial helps identify settlement, rutting or drainage problems, especially during the monsoon. Tolling on highway stretches typically begins only after the formal inauguration, and contractors are bound to fix defects within the liability period under their contracts.
Recent instances of deficiencies include the Lucknow-Kanpur and Dehradun expressways developing problems within weeks of inauguration by ministers and chief ministers. In some cases, NHAI has set toll charges at zero for affected stretches, for the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, tolling has been suspended on the entire corridor.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The proposal marks a shift from the current practice where highways are opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toll collection starts immediately, even though defects often emerge within weeks. Contractors currently have a defect liability period, but the burden of proving deficiencies falls on the authority. A mandatory pre-inauguration trial would force contractors to ensure quality before getting paid. The real test will be whether the rule is enforced uniformly and whether the trial period is counted in project timelines, since delays can trigger cost overruns. Watch for NHAI's next circular on contract conditions and how it treats toll revenue during the trial phase.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
