# MoRTH tightens DPR consultant ratings, associates get 75% score 2026-08-14T06:14:36+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The ministry of road transport and highways has tightened performance-rating norms for DPR consultants, giving associate firms only 75% of the lead consultant's rating instead of an equal score. The change aims to reflect actual responsibility on highway projects, where poor DPRs often cause delays, cost overruns and disputes. Highway awards have fallen to a seven-year low of about 7,000 km in FY26, and construction has also slowed. As of March 2026, around 80 projects were delayed by more than three years, down from 154 a year earlier, but the ministry attributes the remaining delays partly to weak DPRs. ## Coverage - livemint.com Tags: DPR consultants, highway projects, infrastructure, MoRTH, performance ratings, project delays Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/morth-tightens-dpr-consultant-ratings-associates-get-75-score/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/morth-tightens-dpr-consultant-ratings-associates-get-75-score/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.