The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced new quality, safety and event-management guidelines for newly inaugurated national highway projects, providing for independent audits of major projects and more intensive inspections after highways are opened to traffic.
The guidelines, issued on Friday after a review of existing protocols, incorporate experience and lessons from recent inauguration and foundation-stone laying events involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move comes weeks after the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, inaugurated in April, developed potholes, cracks and a cave-in following intense rain.
The new framework also requires NHAI’s media teams to proactively monitor print and digital media reports following such events. In coordination with regional offices, teams have been asked to prepare responses or “counter narratives” to reports that NHAI considers factually incorrect or politically motivated.
Independent Audits for Major Highway Projects
Under the policy, greenfield expressways, high-speed corridors, specialised projects and projects with a total capital cost exceeding ₹2,500 crore may undergo independent audits by reputed third-party entities or premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology.
The audits may examine issues including the anticipated impact of traffic after a highway opens, drainage and other related concerns. NHAI said the new addendum supersedes an earlier addendum issued in October 2025.
The measures are intended to strengthen scrutiny of major highway projects beyond their inauguration and ensure that potential problems are identified after traffic begins using newly opened stretches.
Weekly Inspections During First Three Months
NHAI has also prescribed joint inspections of newly opened highway stretches by the contractor or concessionaire’s project manager and the supervision consultant’s team leader. These inspections are to take place every week during the first three months after opening and once every fortnight during the following three months.
The inspections will cover pavement and riding quality, drainage, safety installations and embankment slopes.
Route patrol vehicles will regularly cover the full length of highways after they open. Any defects or signs of anticipated deterioration are to be geo-tagged and immediately reported to the project director, contractor or concessionaire and supervision consultant so that rectification can be undertaken.
The increased inspection requirements follow recent concerns over defects on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, where potholes, cracks and a cave-in were reported following heavy rain.
New Rules for Major Prime Ministerial Events
The circular also lays down arrangements for large Prime Ministerial events connected with highway projects. Such events can draw crowds ranging from 25,000 to one lakh people, according to the guidelines.
NHAI has called for adequate venue capacity, parking, connectivity, security and crowd-management arrangements, along with contingency measures for adverse weather conditions.
The circular also states that the number of officials attending a function should preferably be restricted to 500. Preparations for an event should be completed at least 24 hours before the programme, providing additional time to ensure that logistical, security and other arrangements are in place.
