North India Statesman
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has escalated disciplinary action in the Ram Van Gaman Marg road defect case, placing Bhopal-based independent engineer firm LN Malviya Infra Projects Limited under temporary suspension for one month. The punitive step represents the fourth major action taken in connection with structural fissures and damaged infrastructure discovered along National Highway 731A (NH-731A), which links Ayodhya with Chitrakoot. During the 30-day suspension period, the consulting firm is barred from submitting bids or participating in any road projects financed or managed by MoRTH, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), or the Central Government.
Series of Crackdowns Following Chief Minister’s Displeasure
The disciplinary measure follows direct intervention from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who expressed severe dissatisfaction during a high-level review meeting over the deteriorating condition of the high-profile religious and cultural route. In the initial wave of scrutiny, the state administration suspended Ravindra Pal Singh, Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (National Highways) in Prayagraj, while initiating departmental disciplinary proceedings against Superintending Engineer Omkar Bharti.
Simultaneously, MoRTH imposed a one-month temporary bidding ban on Delhi-based contracting agency S&P Infrastructure Developers, the primary construction firm responsible for executing Package-2 of the greenfield corridor.
Severe Deficiencies Uncovered in Greenfield Corridor
The regulatory crackdown comes on the back of serious technical flaws identified during high-level departmental inspections along Package-2 of the greenfield highway. The official inquiry flagged notable misalignments and defects within the approach structures and expansion gaps of the newly built flyover.
Furthermore, inspection teams detected deep longitudinal fissures running along nearly 1.5 kilometres of roadside earthen shoulders and carriageway tracks. The scrutiny also confirmed that roughly 500 metres of roadside protective and safety barriers had suffered extensive collapse and structural damage prior to formal commissioning, underscoring systemic lapses in supervision and quality control.
