NHAI sacks Delhi-Mumbai expressway contractor after viral road damage video

NEW DELHI: Another video purportedly showing a damaged stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur has gone viral, intensifying criticism of NHAI following the recent cave-in on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Officials said the highways authority had terminated the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway contractor’s agreement in April after the builder repeatedly failed to fulfil the contractual obligations, despite multiple directions, notices and follow-up actions.“In view of the contractor’s persistently poor performance, its residual works were suspended on April 21, 2026, and the remaining construction works were entrusted to another highway builder,” said an official.In addition, the rectification and maintenance works are being carried out by the new contractor at the risk and cost of the terminated highway builder. “This has been done to ensure expeditious and effective restoration of the affected section,” he added.Officials said that after the opening of one carriageway of four lanes (Mumbai-Delhi) in Feb this year, quality issues such as pavement distress, including rutting, was found on two sections — 4 km and 3 km — of the stretch.“Micro-milling work is currently being carried out on the affected road stretches to level the road surface, improve ride quality, and ensure safe and uninterrupted traffic. Construction work and installation of crash barriers on the parallel carriageway is in progress, so that traffic can soon be shifted from the carriageway which is under repair,” an official said.After traffic diversion, permanent reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected stretches will be carried out as per the approved technical methodology. A committee comprising independent technical experts has inspected the affected sections. It has collected samples and these will be tested to find the exact cause of failure and the technical methodology for permanent rectification.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.