Nitin Gadkari orders babus to put QR codes on highways with contractor and officers’ details

NEW DELHI: In a unique move, the road transport ministry has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and highway builders to create their own YouTube channels and upload regular videos of highway projects at various stages of construction.Union minister Nitin Gadkari said he has ordered the installation of hoardings with QR codes on national highways. Commuters will be able to scan these codes to view details of the contractor, consultant, and government officials responsible for the stretch, including their names and contact information.

Gadkari said, “Main kyu gaali khaun? The QR code will have information of the contractor, consultant, and officers who cleared the road. If a road is bad and people are complaining about it on social media, take it seriously. From A to Z in road construction, we need ownership, sincerity, and a positive approach. Roads must be good, and they must stay good.”He emphasised that if people are paying toll, they deserve international-quality roads. “Weather or poor bitumen cannot be excuses. If the surface is not comfortable, fix it — cost may increase but comfort is non-negotiable,” Gadkari said.The minister also pushed for performance audits to identify design and maintenance lapses, promote accountability, and reward quality work. “When audits are regular, transparency increases, and excuses decrease. That’s how we should work,” he said.At the same event, road transport secretary V Umashankar on Tuesday instructed NHAI to upload such project videos for public viewing and feedback. Speaking at a CII event, he said, “We often get information and updates about projects and problems from videos uploaded by independent YouTubers. Some comments also give insight into issues. We are working to make video uploading part of project contract documents.”Officials said builders already submit drone-shot videos during construction, so making them public will not be an issue. The move aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and public participation in highway projects.Expansion and technology pushGadkari said work is underway to upgrade 25,000 km of highways to four lanes and connect major ports under a ₹2 lakh crore plan, highlighting that improved connectivity is also supporting religious tourism and adventure travel. The ministry is making precast technology mandatory in highway construction to enhance quality and speed up completion.Environmental balance and logistics efficiencyCiting the transplantation of 8,500 trees along the Dwarka Expressway, Gadkari said the government is committed to balancing infrastructure growth with environmental sustainability. He added that improved road infrastructure will help reduce logistics and fuel costs, noting that “80% of goods traffic in India moves by road, while 18% uses other modes and only 1% by air. With better highways, logistics costs are expected to come down to single digits.”Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Gadkari said the goal is to build safe, sustainable, and modern roads that boost economic activity and improve the quality of life across India.