NEW DELHI: The central government has decided to close the companies that are causing irregularities in road construction in the country. Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has come forward to severely criticize the agencies and contractors regarding the plight of roads. The minister warned that the bank guarantee of those performing poorly will be forfeited and barred from applying for new tenders.

The poor condition of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway drew criticism. The minister himself has come out with a warning after travelling this way to inaugurate a tree planting drive in Ghaziabad.

"The Eastern Peripheral Expressway is being used after a long time. Now I want many people who are not working to retire. It has been noticed that the maintenance and repair of this road is very poor. Many complaints have been noticed regarding this.

No one who shows disorder will be let off the hook. The bank guarantee will be forfeited. Subsequently, contractors will be blacklisted. They will not be allowed to apply for new tenders. Those who do the right thing will be awarded but if they work in a bad way, they will not have a place in the system, they will be thrown out of the system,'' Gadkari said.