05/06/2026
*CRANE COLLAPSE AT JEWAR EXPRESSWAY SITE SPARKS OUTCRY OVER L1 BIDDING SYSTEM*
A major structural failure occurred at the construction site of the APCO Jewar Expressway Private Limited project near Faridabad, where a massive launcher crane collapsed during flyover girder installation. The heavy machinery crash trapped several workers beneath the debris, triggering emergency rescue operations by regional authorities. The 31.4-kilometer-long access-controlled expressway—designed to link Faridabad directly to the upcoming Jewar International Airport—has now halted construction pending a comprehensive safety audit.
Industry experts and engineering watchdogs argue that this failure highlights systemic issues within the procurement policies of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). By prioritizing the Least Cost Method (L1 bidding) over robust technical checks, structural integrity is often compromised.
*The Race to the Bottom*: The L1 model naturally incentivizes private concessionaires to aggressively underbid to secure government contracts. To preserve profit margins on these low bids, contractors routinely squeeze operational costs.
*Diluted Technical Evaluation*: Critics note that NHAI's technical qualification phase has largely become a check-the-box exercise. It fails to adequately filter out bids that skimp on top-tier project management, advanced safety equipment, and highly skilled structural engineers.
*Subcontracting Hazards*: Low-margin primary contractors frequently offload specialized, high-risk tasks—such as heavy crane operations and girder launching—to unvetted, low-cost third-party subcontractors who lack adequate safety oversight.
