The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued show cause notices to 11 steel companies across India for failing to meet the specified quality standards for reinforcement steel bars, or rebar, used in highway construction.
The notices, issued between June 19 and June 21, cited issues related to the quality of TMT bars supplied by these companies.
The companies receiving notices include Agrawal Foundries Pvt Ltd, MSP Steel and Power Ltd, Shri Bajrang Power and Ispat Ltd, Hira Steel Ltd, Shree Nakoda, Gallant TMT, Prime Gold JVC, Kamachi Industries Limited, SRMB Srijan Pvt Ltd, Shakambari Ispat and Power Ltd, and Maithan Steel and Power.
Thermo-Mechanically Treated (TMT) bars are crucial in highway construction for ensuring the durability, safety, and longevity of road infrastructure.
According to the notices, NHAI conducted random sampling of TMT bars from these steelmakers, tested by a third-party NABL accredited lab. The tests revealed that the samples did not meet the specified limits in IS-1786 for chemical composition. NHAI has asked the companies to respond with an explanation within 15 days.
IS-1786 is the Indian standard specification for high strength deformed steel bars and wires for concrete reinforcement, outlining requirements for chemical composition, mechanical properties, and testing methods for TMT bars.
