Chandigarh, September 25: The Quality Assurance Authority (QAA), Haryana, has been entrusted with the responsibility of establishing and enforcing quality norms and standards in engineering works, conducting technical audits and inspections, developing Standard Operating Methods and Procedures (SOMPs), accrediting and monitoring quality testing laboratories and third-party quality assurance agencies, recommending best engineering practices, promoting capacity building of engineers, and fostering the adoption of modern technologies and sustainable construction practices in public infrastructure.
Technical Audits and Inspections Across Departments
Sh. Sameer Pal Srow, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the Authority, informed that since its establishment, the Authority has been actively carrying out technical audits and inspections of infrastructure projects across various departments. These inspections are undertaken both on the basis of complaints received from the public and wherever considered necessary to independently assess the quality of works being executed.
The Authority has already audited and inspected projects relating to roads, bridges, buildings, water supply, sewerage, irrigation, power transmission and other critical infrastructure sectors. Detailed technical audit reports have been submitted, highlighting deficiencies, good practices and recommendations for corrective action.
Coordination with National Organisations
As part of its long-term vision of developing a comprehensive quality ecosystem, the Authority has established close coordination with reputed national organisations, including the Quality Council of India (QCI), and premier testing laboratories such as the Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research and other nationally recognised institutions.
The objective is to establish a state-of-the-art quality testing laboratory in Haryana equipped with modern facilities for testing construction materials and infrastructure components in accordance with national and international standards.
Collaboration with IIT Roorkee and Other Institutions
The Authority also proposes to collaborate with premier academic and research institutions, including IIT Roorkee and other leading centres of excellence specialising in highways, bridges, buildings, irrigation, sewerage, water supply, power transmission and power distribution.
These collaborations are aimed at adopting best engineering practices, strengthening technical expertise, incorporating modern construction technologies and continuously improving quality standards in public infrastructure.
Mandatory Stage-Wise Inspections
Sh. Srow further informed that, in another major initiative aimed at strengthening quality assurance at the field level, the Government has approved a comprehensive inspection framework for infrastructure projects being executed across Haryana. The new framework seeks to institutionalise regular inspections by senior engineering officers during the execution stage itself so that deficiencies can be identified and rectified at an early stage rather than after project completion.
Under the new inspection mechanism approved by the Authority, mandatory inspections will be carried out at different stages of construction depending on the cost of the project. Projects costing above ₹50 crore will be inspected by the Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) at approximately 50 per cent and 90 per cent stages of physical progress, that is, twice during execution. Projects costing ₹25 crore and above will be inspected by the Chief Engineer (CE) at approximately 20 per cent, 40 per cent, 60 per cent and 80 per cent stages of physical progress, that is, four times. Similarly, projects costing ₹10 crore and above will be inspected by the Superintending Engineer (SE) at approximately 15 per cent, 30 per cent, 45 per cent, 60 per cent, 75 per cent and 90 per cent stages of physical progress, that is, six times.
Site Order Book for Accountability
To ensure proper documentation and accountability, every project site shall maintain a Site Order Book, which will remain available at the site office for recording observations, technical directions and compliance instructions issued during inspections.
Officers of the rank of Executive Engineer and above shall specifically record the shortcomings observed at the site along with detailed remedial measures required for their rectification.
Inspection Reports Within Three Working Days
All inspecting officers shall submit their inspection reports to the Authority within three working days of inspection in the prescribed format. The reports shall also include project-wise assessment based on the technical quality parameters and marking system prescribed in the Standard Operating Methods and Procedures (SOMPs) issued by the Authority.
Quality Scores for Objective Monitoring
The quality scores will become an integral part of the inspection process and will facilitate objective monitoring of project quality. The system will provide a structured mechanism for assessing compliance with prescribed technical quality parameters during the execution of infrastructure projects.
Inspection Records to Promote Accountability
The inspection records maintained by various departments may also be considered by the competent authority while assessing the performance of the concerned officers. The mechanism is aimed at promoting greater accountability and encouraging proactive supervision of works.
The comprehensive framework, along with technical audits, quality testing, institutional collaborations and standardised inspection procedures, is intended to strengthen the overall quality assurance system for infrastructure projects in Haryana.
