Drainage Planning Made Mandatory in Infrastructure Projects Across Haryana
QR codes with complete technical details and regular progress updates to be put up at project sites
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Under the directions of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the Quality Assurance Authority (QAA)-Haryana is working with a comprehensive mandate to strengthen quality, transparency and accountability in engineering infrastructure projects across the state.
Chairman, QAA, Rajeev Arora (Retd. IAS) stated that in accordance with the Chief Minister’s directions, the QAA has conducted detailed technical audits of major infrastructure projects across multiple departments in two phases, covering 25 large projects.
These audits focused on design adequacy, adherence to Detailed Project Report (DPR) provisions, construction quality, contract management, safety aspects and long-term sustainability. Based on these audits, Detailed Technical Audit Reports have been prepared and circulated to the concerned Administrative Departments and Executing Agencies for compliance and corrective action.
The QAA has also been tasked with preparing a comprehensive consolidated presentation by 16th February, 2026, incorporating ATRs received from departments along with QAA’s independent observations, comments and recommendations. This presentation will also include suggestions for action against officers or officials wherever required, and additional measures necessary to ensure timely completion and high quality of projects. As per directions, all audit reports prepared by QAA shall be linked with the Haryana Engineering Works Portal and the Chief Minister’s Dashboard at the earliest, with the Public Health Engineering Department acting as the nodal department for immediate implementation.
To strengthen project preparation and execution, engagement of DPR and design consultants has been made mandatory for all greenfield road projects, all bridges, flyovers, road overbridges and road underbridges, all building projects costing ₹5 crore and above, and all road upgradation projects costing ₹25 crore and above. For projects of lower value, Standard Operating Procedures and standard design and drawing templates shall be prepared in consultation with stakeholder departments and the Chief Architect. The QAA shall function as the nodal agency for finalisation, standardisation and periodic review of these SOPs and templates. In addition, Third Party Inspection and Monitoring Agencies shall be mandatorily engaged for all projects costing ₹5 crore and above to ensure independent quality checks and continuous monitoring.
Rajeev Arora said to enhance transparency and facilitate social audit, QR codes shall be mandatorily displayed at all project sites. These QR codes shall be linked to dedicated digital pages containing DPR summaries and Bills of Quantities, approved technical specifications, names of contractors, Engineers-in-Charge and consultants, as well as monthly updates on physical and financial progress.
He said in order to ensure holistic planning, splitting of projects has been disallowed. All projects shall be sanctioned through a single administrative approval and tender, covering all inter-linked and dependent components. The Tender Preparing and Approving Officer shall be required to explicitly certify that all dependent components have been duly included in the scope of work.
Drainage planning has been made a mandatory and integral component of all DPRs. Departments have been directed to develop standard design templates for urban and rural drainage systems, ensure inter-departmental coordination and synchronise execution. The use of underground recharge wells has also been emphasised as a sustainable method for runoff disposal and groundwater recharge.
Encroachment on Government land along roads and canals has been taken up as a priority. All encroachments are to be removed in close coordination with Revenue Authorities. Right of Way demarcation for National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads and major irrigation canals and distributaries shall be undertaken on a State-wide, time-bound basis, preferably using GPS or GIS technology and stone pillars.
Projects shall henceforth be rated on the basis of the Standard Operating Methods and Procedures scoring system developed by QAA. Projects scoring below 75 marks shall be treated as unsatisfactory and unacceptable, those scoring between 75 and 90 marks shall require improvement and corrective action, and projects scoring above 90 marks shall be considered satisfactory and fully compliant.
The QAA has further been tasked with contributing to policy formulation for improved maintenance of road bridges through a comprehensive Bridge Maintenance Policy, with PWD (B&R), Haryana as the nodal department.
To ensure sustained quality assurance, QAA shall conduct quality audits on a regular basis. Officers from quality control wings of all Government engineering departments shall be attached with QAA to strengthen its manpower. In addition, GATE-qualified young professionals of the 2026 batch shall be deployed as Associates for Quality Assurance through HKRNL to further augment QAA’s capacity. The QAA has also been directed to organise regular training and capacity-building programmes for Government departments to sensitise and train young engineers, ensuring consistent quality in engineering infrastructure across Haryana.