Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said there will be no compromise on quality in any government construction work in the state, and strict action will be taken in cases of negligence.
He said all construction works, whether government buildings or roads, must be completed as per prescribed standards. Departments have been asked to pay special attention to road layering and ensure strict compliance with conditions mentioned in tenders. Any lapse, poor quality or violation of norms will invite strict action against responsible officials and employees.
The Chief Minister was chairing a meeting of the Quality Assurance Authority QAA to review the quality of government construction works and technical audits being conducted across departments. During the meeting, QAA Chairman Rajiv Arora, retired IAS, presented details of action taken on decisions from the previous review, departmental progress and future plans. He also shared technical audit reports of ongoing projects, highlighting planning, quality of work, adherence to standards and deficiencies through photographs and technical evidence.
The meeting reviewed works related to Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Irrigation Department, Public Works Department, Power Department and Public Health Engineering Department.
The Chief Minister directed that apart from works executed by state departments, construction projects carried out by central public sector undertakings and funded by the Haryana government should also be periodically audited by the QAA.
He said the state government is committed to taking the quality of public construction to new heights and directed departments to adopt better work practices, fix accountability and ensure that public money is spent on durable and quality assets.
Taking serious note of shortcomings highlighted in QAA audit reports, the Chief Minister directed administrative secretaries and department heads to take strict action within a fixed timeline wherever negligence or violation of standards is found. He also asked departments to rectify all deficiencies at the earliest to prevent recurrence in future projects.
Third party inspection, monitoring agencies to be appointed
Progress of decisions taken in the previous review meeting was also assessed. Officials informed that instructions have already been issued regarding appointment of DPR and design consultants, third party inspection and monitoring agencies TPIMA, providing project details through QR codes, auditing of works executed by PSUs funded by the state, implementation of a uniform evaluation system based on standard operating and monitoring procedures, and removal of arbitration clauses from engineering contracts. The QAA is continuously monitoring compliance.
The Chief Minister also directed recruitment for posts such as SDOs and JEs in departments including PWD and HSAMB.
The meeting also reviewed integration of technical audit reports with the Haryana Engineering Works portal and the Chief Minister’s dashboard, formulation of policy for bridges and multi storey buildings, strengthening quality control wings, protection of right of way, drainage planning and increasing technical staff. Departments were asked to complete these tasks within stipulated timelines.
QAA also suggested several measures to further strengthen quality and monitoring, including social cost benefit analysis for large projects, environmental impact assessment, contractor payments linked to quality, review of Haryana Schedule of Rates every six months, policy for quality and safety of private multi storey buildings, preparation of a panel of qualified structural engineers and recruitment of GATE qualified young quality monitors. The Chief Minister directed departments to act on these proposals on priority.
QAA Act under review
The Chief Minister also reviewed progress on the proposed Quality Assurance Authority Act and directed that the draft be finalised soon after consultations with all departments so that it can be presented in the next session of the Haryana Assembly. He said the Act will strengthen quality, transparency and accountability in public works.
Focus on training engineers
Reviewing training programmes, QAA Chairman Rajiv Arora said the next phase will begin from August 5, 2026. Around 400 junior engineers from the Panchayati Raj Department will be trained in the first phase, followed by engineers from other departments, especially HSAMB.
He said the aim of the Quality Assurance Authority is not just to point out deficiencies but to build the capacity of engineers so that all construction works meet prescribed standards and deliver durable and quality infrastructure.
Senior officials including Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary PWD AK Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Irrigation and Water Resources Anurag Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Vijyendra Kumar and Haryana Power Utilities Chairperson Ashima Brar were present in the meeting.