Nitin Gadkari Criticizes Highway and Tunnel Project Reports in India
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, criticized the makers of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for not following proper procedures in the construction of highways, roads, and tunnels across the country. He was speaking at the 2nd edition of TUNNELING INDIA: Emerging Trends and Opportunities organized by FICCI.
Addressing issues related to road accidents and tunnel failures, Gadkari remarked, “I should not use these words, but if there is any culprit in this, then it is the one who made the DPR. I apologize; I am using the word ‘culprit’. The companies that make DPRs are owned by retired government officials. They work on Google from their homes without any detailed investigation.”
Gadkari explained the government’s process, stating, “Our government has such a system that after getting the DPR, they only do the work of issuing the tender. Because the ministers are not the ones to understand technical terms, technical and financial qualifications are also wisely included by the officials.”
He expressed concern over the involvement of certain companies in manipulating the tender process, saying, “I have no hesitation in saying that big companies get these financial and technical qualifications done as per their own calculation,” while also clarifying that not all companies are involved in these manipulations.
Gadkari highlighted the influence of government officials in the decision-making process, stating, “I feel that we run the government…our joint secretary, undersecretary is a guide and philosopher. And whatever he writes on the file is signed by the Director General (DG), and the minister also signs it in the same manner. This is how our Ramrajya runs.”
He noted that due to these manipulations, the costs of projects often escalate unnecessarily. However, he pointed out that through comprehensive studies and competition, costs could be reduced, citing the Zozila Tunnel project as an example. “The project which was sanctioned for Rs 12,000 crore will be completed in Rs 5,200 or Rs 5,300 crore. This happened because of the competition,” Gadkari said, highlighting the effective planning and implementation in the project.
Doubts Revealed
Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is an important person in the Indian government. He is the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, which means he looks after the roads and highways in India.
Detailed Project Reports (DPR) -: A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is a big document that explains how a project, like building a road or tunnel, will be done. It includes all the details like costs, materials, and steps needed to complete the project.
TUNNELING INDIA event -: The TUNNELING INDIA event is a special meeting where experts talk about building tunnels in India. Tunnels are long passages dug through mountains or underground to make travel easier.
tender process -: The tender process is a way to choose companies to do big projects like building roads or tunnels. Companies send their offers, and the best one is picked to do the job.
Zozila Tunnel -: The Zozila Tunnel is a big tunnel project in India. It is being built to make travel easier between the regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, especially during winter when roads are blocked by snow.
