Government’s priority to provide cost-effective, high-quality infrastructure: Nitin Gadkari
Aug 19, 2026
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government’s foremost priority is to develop high-quality infrastructure in a cost-effective manner, stressing that there can be no compromise on quality.
Addressing the fourth edition of the Tunnels and Bridges Conference 2026 in New Delhi, Gadkari said the Ministry would review existing provisions governing the subcontracting of highway projects to ensure strict compliance with contractual obligations. He said the principal contractor must remain clearly accountable for the quality and timely execution of projects.
The Minister said contractors were already being assessed on the basis of their performance and that the exercise was now being extended to consultants preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). He said tender eligibility could be linked to these performance assessments.
Gadkari stressed the need for detailed and technically robust DPRs, particularly for projects in difficult terrains. Poor-quality DPRs and inadequate geological data, he said, often result in cost overruns, project delays and safety concerns.
Highlighting the challenges of infrastructure construction in the Himalayan region, Gadkari said landslides, extreme weather, natural hazards and logistical difficulties make tunnel and bridge construction considerably more challenging than in black-rock regions.
He emphasised the need to adopt modern construction techniques, including precast methodology and advanced Tunnel Boring Machines, along with improved surveys, continuous monitoring and early-warning systems to prevent failures.
Gadkari said the Ministry was currently preparing tunnel tenders worth an estimated ₹2 lakh crore to ₹2.5 lakh crore, underscoring the scale of the government’s planned investment in tunnel infrastructure.
