NEW DELHI: Following incidents of newly built highway stretches developing cracks, potholes, premature failures, rutting and other deficien-cies, govt is looking at the option of carrying out trial runs on highways for a longer per-iod before they are officially inaugurated. That is, normal traffic may be allowed on the stretches for two-three mon-ths to identify deficiencies before the formal launch, reports Dipak Dash.Officials said trial runs on highways are carried out only after all work and safety audits have been completed. TOI has learnt that the idea was discussed during a meeting to review progress in the Delhi-Mumbai expre-ssway project last week, whi-ch road transport minister Nitin Gadkari chairedInstances of extended trial run in past too: OfficialsOfficials said there have been instances in the past of extended trial run on stretches, including on sections of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway and the tunnel on Dwarka Expressway, before they were inaugurated.“An extended trial run is good considering that settlement of any section, rutting or drainage problem can be identified and fixed… particularly during monsoon season…” said an official.In most cases, tolling on highway stretches commences only after their official inauguration.
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According to contract conditions, contractors are bound to rectify all deficiencies within the defect liability period. Officials said Gadkari had directed officials from NHAI, contractors and consultants involved in projects to improve the quality of construction as any deficiencies deprive people of the promised facility.There have been instances of both national and state highways developing major deficiencies within weeks after their inauguration by PM, central ministers and CMs. The latest such instances pertained to Lucknow-Kanpur and Dehradun expressways. While in a couple of cases, NHAI has calculated the toll amount “zero” for the affected stretches, in the case of Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, tolling has been suspended for the entire corridor.