// Journal · Quality & safety
MoRTH brings catastrophic-failure penalties into HAM bidding
A circular of 29 April 2026 extends EPC-style quality rules to HAM tenders: bidders linked to a bridge, tunnel or embankment failure in the last two years lose 30 marks or can be disqualified.
Quality on India's highways is now being policed at the bidding stage, not only after something goes wrong. Through a circular dated 29 April 2026, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways extended provisions that already applied to EPC contracts to all ongoing and future Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) bid documents.
The rule
A bidder involved in a catastrophic failure within two years before the bid due date — on a completed or an ongoing project — faces a minus-30-mark penalty or possible disqualification.
What counts as catastrophic
- collapse of a bridge, flyover or underpass;
- embankment or pavement failure that takes the road out of service;
- collapse of a launching girder or staging with loss of life;
- a tunnel collapse, or people trapped for more than 72 hours;
- failure of pavement quality concrete (PQC).
Why now
Major deficiencies were reported on 67 National Highway projects over the previous three years. Rather than relying only on penalties and blacklisting after the fact, the ministry wants contractors' safety and quality record to decide who wins the work in the first place.
Source: Vajiram & Ravi current affairs, on MoRTH's circular of 29 April 2026.
