Several Ministries have been asked to submit detailed reports on ongoing and completed projects, with a sharp focus on durability, materials used, and post-construction inspection protocols
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI

The centre plans to come up with tighter quality control mechanisms across all public infrastructure projects soon, sources told businessline.

The new quality control norms come after a spate of infrastructure failures across the country, including collapsing bridges, cave-ins, and widespread erosion of roads and buildings during the monsoon season.

The process for coming out with tighter quality control mechanism, started recently, sources said. Accordingly, a high-level review meeting was called by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), with representatives from all infrastructure-related Ministries.

Speaking to businessline, sources said that “serious concern has been expressed” at the highest levels of the government over the structural failures that are increasingly being reported across the country.

“Every Ministry is expected to come up with suggestions and plans to tighten quality control norms,” said sources.

According to sources, , several Ministries have been asked to submit detailed reports on ongoing and completed projects, with a sharp focus on durability, materials used, and post-construction inspection protocols.

Lately, a series of infrastructure failures have been reported, especially bridge collapses, road sinkholes in major cities, and damaged highway stretches in several monsoon-affected States.

Besides, representatives from various Ministries were told during the meeting that such failures not only jeopardise lives but also erode public trust in flagship infrastructure programmes, such as the ₹111-lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline.

Third-party audits

Ministries have also been tasked to push for systemic reforms such as third-party audits, real-time project tracking, and stricter penalties for errant contractors.

“There is now a strong push to overhaul how quality is embedded into the project lifecycle — from planning and procurement to execution and maintenance,” said sources.

The new guidelines, are expected to be finalised in the coming months, and will likely become mandatory for all infrastructure projects above a certain threshold.

“These guidelines will be applicable to all projects executed by Central public sector enterprises and under PPP models.”

New panel

In addition, a panel might be constituted to study the possibility of “symptoms of deeper lapses in construction standards, contractor accountability, and project monitoring”.

Experts told businessline that the move was long overdue. “For mission-critical projects, the quality of the Detailed Project Report determines the success of execution,” said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director & Global Head (transport, mobility, and logistics) at Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics.

“It is imperative to engage competent, experienced consultants, not just the lowest bidder. The L1 model may reduce upfront costs, but it often leads to downstream inefficiencies, cost overruns, and compromised outcomes. Value-based selection must replace cost-based selection when quality is non-negotiable.”

Published on July 17, 2025