NHAI Issues Show Cause Notices To 11 Steel Companies For Substandard Rebar Quality

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued show cause notices to 11 steel companies across the country for failing to meet specified quality standards for reinforcement steel bars (rebar) used in highway construction. The notices, as per media reports, were issued between 19 to 21 June.

The steel companies receiving the notices include Agrawal Foundries, MSP Steel and Power, Shri Bajrang Power and Ispat, Hira Steel, Shree Nakoda, Gallant TMT, Prime Gold JVC, Kamachi Industries, SRMB Srijan, Shakambari Ispat and Power, and Maithan Steel and Power. These companies were cited for issues related to the quality of their Thermo-Mechanically Treated (TMT) bars.

TMT bars are crucial in highway construction, providing essential benefits for the durability, safety, and longevity of road infrastructure. NHAI's random sampling of TMT bars from the mentioned steelmakers, tested in a third-party NABL accredited lab, revealed that the samples did not conform to the specified limits in IS-1786 for chemical composition.

IS-1786 is the Indian standard specification for high-strength deformed steel bars and wires for concrete reinforcement. It outlines requirements for chemical composition, mechanical properties, and testing methods for TMT bars.

NHAI has demanded that the companies provide an explanation within 15 days of receiving the notices.