NHAI concerned over engineering consultants quoting abnormally low bid prices

NEW DELHI: The highway authority has raised concerns over engineering consultants quoting abnormally low bid prices as these have an impact on the quality of work.
Speaking at the Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India S S Sandhu said the authority had to “unwillingly take some harsh steps” against consultants for poor quality work as he urged the industry to put in place an internal mechanism for quality improvement. “Some of the quotes received by NHAI for various projects are so low that one wonders if the consultants have included the salary of the workers and good work,” said Sandhu.
Union highways minister Nitin Gadkari also said the “independent engineers or consultants” have become the “most dependent engineers and consultants”. At a webinar on infrastructure sector on Thursday, he also lashed out at consultants who prepare DPRs for not doing due diligence and said they are responsible for delay in execution of projects and also for highways lacking adequate provisions for safety of all road users.
“I know many of the retired officers and engineers have started their consultancy firms for preparing DPRs and they are not giving good services.