Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said poor planning, delays in decision-making, and lack of accountability continue to remain key reasons behind project delays and cost overruns in the infrastructure sector.
Speaking at an infrastructure conference organised by the Assocham, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said that even relatively smaller issues such as land acquisition bottlenecks and delays in approvals often result in significant financial losses.
Besides, the minister stressed the need to maintain quality standards in infrastructure execution, noting that poor workmanship by contractors often goes unchecked.
“Many times, contractors deliver poor-quality work, yet no action is taken against them. The defect liability period remains only on paper,” Gadkari said.
Stricter penalties
He added that contractors responsible for substandard work should face stricter penalties and, where necessary, be blacklisted.
“We must focus on the quality of the work along with the quantity of the work. Today, due to social media, even the smallest flaws come to light quickly, making it even more important to maintain quality,” he said.
According to Gadkari, transparency, time-bound decision-making, and accountability must become integral to project execution.
Furthermore, he highlighted the role of technology in reducing construction costs, while cautioning that cost efficiency should not come at the expense of quality.
Accordingly, the minister said the adoption of innovation, the use of alternative materials, and converting waste into energy would be critical for the future of infrastructure development.
“Perfection may not be possible, but continuous improvement certainly is,” he said.
Additionally, he pointed out that infrastructure failures often arise because tenders are issued without adequate Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) or proper testing.
Published on April 28, 2026