Highway Projects to Soon Show Contractor and Officer Details
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced a major step toward improving transparency and accountability in India’s highway projects. Soon, commuters traveling on national highways will be able to access detailed information about the contractors and officers responsible for managing road projects.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, Gadkari revealed that the government plans to make details such as names, contact numbers, and addresses of project heads and contractors publicly available. This will be done through QR code-enabled signboards installed along highways.
According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), these signboards will include not just project details but also emergency helpline numbers. By scanning the QR codes, commuters can easily access information about who is in charge of construction or maintenance and report issues directly to responsible officials.
“This initiative will help ensure accountability,” Gadkari said. “People should know who is responsible for a project’s progress or delay.”
The minister also highlighted that this move is part of a broader vision for world-class infrastructure built on three pillars — comfort, prosperity, and environmental sustainability.
Under the comfort pillar, Gadkari shared that 670 new road projects and amenities are being developed to make travel more convenient and safe. Contractors will remain responsible for their projects under a 10-year defect liability period, ensuring they maintain road quality and safety standards. Officers overseeing these projects must also ensure roads remain in good condition during that time.
Moving to the prosperity aspect, Gadkari cited the example of the Dwarka Expressway, which has triggered real estate growth worth nearly ₹5–7 lakh crore. Such infrastructure projects, he said, not only improve connectivity but also create a multiplier effect on India’s economy.
The third focus area is environmental sustainability, where road construction now includes eco-friendly materials, solar lighting, and water conservation efforts.
With these reforms, the government aims to make road infrastructure in India safer, transparent, and future-ready. Gadkari’s initiative of public access to project information marks a significant leap toward building a system where both accountability and efficiency go hand in hand.
