In Himachal Pradesh, 138 contractors are facing the possibility of blacklisting after a centralised review found their work under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to be below standard. The Ministry of Rural Development recently evaluated 182 contractors engaged in the first three phases of PMGSY in the state. While 44 contractors met quality and execution benchmarks, the remaining 138 were flagged for delays, poor workmanship, and non-compliance with prescribed norms.
The performance ranking was conducted using a central government portal containing contractor-wise data, inspection reports, and records of deficiencies. Officials indicated that poorly ranked contractors could face restrictions, including possible blacklisting, which may prevent them from participating in Phase-IV of the rural roads scheme.
Addressing concerns about road infrastructure, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh emphasized that no compromise on quality would be tolerated in the upcoming phase. He noted that the Centre has approved around Rs 2,300 crore for the construction of nearly 1,500 km of rural roads under PMGSY-IV. Singh added that strict conditions would govern work allocations, including limiting contractors to a maximum of seven projects or works exceeding Rs 100 crore, and only those who have satisfactorily completed over 70% of prior works would be considered for new assignments.
Inspections of earlier phases revealed multiple issues such as substandard construction, delays, and non-adherence to technical standards. Contractors with repeated shortcomings were placed under review, affecting their rankings. The state Public Works Department has already started tendering for PMGSY-IV, with final allocations expected based on performance records verified by the Ministry.
The move is particularly significant as Himachal Pradesh continues to recover from extensive monsoon damage last year, which exposed weaknesses in road and bridge construction, including PMGSY stretches. The decision also comes amid pressure on the state government to clear pending contractor payments, with Rs 500 crore recently released through the state treasury to settle outstanding bills.
Officials say the latest action is aimed at strengthening quality control and ensuring that only reliable contractors are entrusted with critical rural connectivity projects in the hill state.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
