NHAI Official Inspects Rain-Damaged Bharatmala Highway In Gujarat; Legal Action Likely If Deficiencies Found

A senior official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Venkatraman, conducted an on-site inspection of the Bharatmala highway near Bakutra toll plaza in Santalpur taluka on Sunday (13 July), following visible damage to a section of the road after recent rainfall.

The visit came in response to the deterioration of a 1.35 kilometre stretch of the highway, which links Rajasthan’s Sanchor to Santalpur in Gujarat’s Patan district and spans a total length of 135 km. During the inspection, samples from the damaged portion were collected for quality assessment.

According to an official release, Venkatraman made it clear that accountability will be ensured. If any deficiency is found in the samples, then legal actions will be taken, the release said.

The contractor responsible for constructing the stretch has already been issued a notice, pending the outcome of the material testing.

Venkatraman also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to the public due to the road damage. He assured citizens that necessary steps would be taken promptly to restore smooth and safe travel along the route.

The inspection was carried out in the presence of key officials, including Patan District Collector Tushar Kumar Bhatt, NHAI Regional Officer Sunil Yadav, and representatives from the Roads and Buildings Department.

The recent spate of inspections comes amid rising scrutiny over the quality of highway construction nationwide.

Reports of collapse and shoddy work on highway stretches in Kerala and the Gujarat have prompted authorities to tighten oversight and conduct thorough testing of road materials to prevent premature damage and ensure public safety.

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