Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addresses measures to enhance the quality of National Highway (NH) construction and maintenance. The focus is on adherence to quality standards, corridor-based infrastructure development, performance ratings, and transparent toll collection. These initiatives aim to improve road safety, traffic efficiency, and overall highway infrastructure.
Key Points / Main Content:
Quality Control Measures:
* Consultants (AE/IE) are appointed for daily supervision, and executing agencies conduct inspections to ensure quality.
* Corrective measures are taken by Concessionaires/Contractors for any deficiencies.
* Actions are taken against defaulting agencies as per contract agreements.
Initiatives for Quality Improvement:
* Mandatory road condition assessments using Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) before, after completion, and every six months post-completion, with revamping for road condition assessment.
* Analysis of high-resolution imagery from Drone Surveys in Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) integrated with AI/ML algorithms for progress and quality evaluation.
* Deployment of Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) with Non-Destructive Testing Equipment on a pilot basis in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Karnataka.
* Operationalization of NHAI One App for monitoring and rectification of highway defects using geotagging and photographs.
* Deployment of Third-Party Quality Auditors for independent quality audits.
Infrastructure Development Focus:
* Development of access-controlled National High-Speed Corridors (Expressways).
* Development of ring roads, bypasses, and elevated corridors in major cities in consultation with State Governments.
* Focus on smart highways, climate resilience, multimodal connectivity, and data-driven management.
Performance and Toll Collection:
* Development of performance rating systems for Detailed Project Report (DPR) Consultants, AE/IE, and Concessionaires.
* NHAI developed a policy in December 2024 for initiating Concessionaire Rating for performance assessment.
* Toll collection operations are conducted through a transparent, competitive, and technology-enabled bidding process via e-tendering.
Road Safety and Standards:
* Adherence to quality standards as per IRC specifications and codes.
* Regular safety audits of all NHs at design, construction, and pre-opening stages.
* Policy to improve all NHs to a minimum of Two Lane with paved shoulders standards, except for ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions.
Impact Analysis:
Executing Agencies, Concessionaires, Contractors:
* Impact: Required to adhere to stricter quality control measures, participate in performance rating systems, and rectify defects promptly.
* Action Required: Implement corrective measures, comply with NSV assessments, and ensure adherence to quality standards and safety guidelines.
Consultants (AE/IE, DPR):
* Impact: Subject to performance rating systems and responsible for ensuring quality standards are met during construction and maintenance.
* Action Required: Participate in performance rating systems and ensure diligent supervision and adherence to quality standards.
Toll Operators:
* Impact: Participate in transparent and competitive e-tendering processes for toll plaza operations.
* Action Required: Participate in e-tendering, adhere to oversight mechanisms, and ensure optimal revenue realization.
Citizens/Road Users:
* Impact: Benefit from improved road safety, traffic efficiency, and overall highway infrastructure.
* Action Required: N/A
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways (NHs): The primary road network in India, which is the focus of the policy regarding construction, maintenance, and quality standards.
Indian Roads Congress (IRC): A technical organization that sets standards and specifications for road construction and maintenance in India. The policy emphasizes adherence to IRC standards.
Network Survey Vehicle (NSV): A vehicle equipped with technology to assess road conditions, used for mandatory assessments before and after construction, and periodically thereafter.
Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS): A system using high-resolution imagery collected from drone surveys and integrated with AI/ML algorithms to evaluate the progress and quality of National Highway works.
Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs): Vehicles equipped with Non-Destructive Testing Equipment, deployed in pilot states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and Karnataka for diagnostic assessments of road quality.
Gujarat: One of the four states where Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) were deployed on a pilot basis.
Rajasthan: One of the four states where Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) were deployed on a pilot basis.
Odisha: One of the four states where Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) were deployed on a pilot basis.
Karnataka: One of the four states where Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) were deployed on a pilot basis.
NHAI One App: A centralized system for monitoring and rectifying highway defects using geotagging and photographs.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The agency responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in India. NHAI developed a policy for initiating Concessionaire Rating for performance assessment.
National High Speed Corridors: Access-controlled corridors and expressways are a focus of the government. These are being developed to decongest traffic.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 868
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
ENSURING QUALITY IN NHs CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE
868. SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:
SMT. SHAMBHAVI:
SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:
SHRI RAJESH VERMA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the specific measures being undertaken to enhance the
quality of National Highways (NHs) construction and maintenance by
July 2025;
(b) the new benchmarks being set for construction and the focus
areas for corridor-based infrastructure development;
(c) the manner in which performance ratings and transparent toll
collection bids would be implemented to ensure high standards of
construction and maintenance;
(d) the timeline for shifting the focus from quantity to quality in
National Highway development; and
(e) the anticipated impact of these changes on road safety,
traffic efficiency and the overall highway infrastructure in the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) to (e) All efforts are made to ensure that the National Highways
(NHs) are constructed as per stipulated quality standards specified in
the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications and codes. To ensure
that highway construction adheres to stipulated quality standards,
Consultants (Authority’s Engineer/ Independent Engineers- AE/IE) are
appointed by the executing agencies for day-to-day supervision
of works at site. Officials of executing agencies undertake
inspections from time to time and ensure adherence of conformity of
quality of the work done by the Concessionaire/ Contractors with
stipulated requirements. Deficiencies, if any, observed during such
examination/ supervision are brought to the notice of the
Concessionaires/ Contractors for taking up necessary corrective
measures. Actions against defaulting agencies are taken as per the
provisions of the Contract agreement in case of any defaults.
The Government has taken the following initiatives for improvement of
quality control systems in implementation of NHs works, some of
which are as stated below:
i. Mandatory assessments of road conditions through Network
Survey Vehicle (NSV) before and after completion of work and
every six months post completion; Further revamping of NSV
system for road condition assessment using analytics and
enforcement of contractual provisions during Operation and
Maintenance (O&M) through dedicated central cell;
ii. Analysis of High-Resolution Imagery collected from Drone
Surveys in Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) integrated
with Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning algorithms for
periodic evaluation of progress and quality of ongoing NHs works
from time to time;
iii. Deployment of Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) equipped
with Non-Destructive Testing Equipment on pilot basis in four
States, namely in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and Karnataka, fordiagnostic assessments of overall health and quality of works
from time to time during project implementation phases;
iv. Operationalization of a centralized system called NHAI One App
for Monitoring and rectification of highway defects which
enables geo-tagging of defects along with photographs;
v. Deployment of Third Party Quality Auditors for independent
quality audits of NH works on a case-to-case basis.
The development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous
process and the works on NHs are taken up from time to time based
on the traffic density, inter-se priority and availability of funds.
Government has inter-alia decided to focus on development of Access
controlled National High Speed Corridors / Expressways, besides
taking up development of ring roads, bypasses & elevated corridors in
major cities/ urban centers and State capitals, in consultation with
State Governments, to decongest traffic and alleviate choke /
congestion points on NHs and for segregation of local traffic from
thorough traffic on NHs. Focus areas concerning initiatives taken for
corridor-based infrastructure development include smart highways,
climate resilience, multi-modal connectivity, and data-driven
management with due emphasis on quality, safety, and sustainability.
The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
has taken initiatives for developing performance rating systems for
various stakeholders such as Detailed Project Report (DPR)
Consultants, AE/IE and Concessionaires. The guidelines for
performance rating for DPR Consultants and AE/IE have been recently
uploaded in the Official Website for inviting public comments. National
Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a policy in
December, 2024 for initiating Concessionaire Rating for performance
assessment.
All efforts are made by NHAI to ensure efficient toll collection
operations by adopting a transparent, competitive, and technology-
enabled bidding process. All bids for toll plaza operations are invited
through e-tendering system, ensuring equal opportunity for
participation and promoting fair competition. The process is governedby well-defined criteria and oversight mechanisms to ensure integrity,
accountability, and optimal revenue realization for the exchequer.
The Government focuses on adhering to quality standards as
stipulated in IRC specifications and codes and emphasizes on road
safety measures in all stages of project development, i.e, during
design, construction, operation and maintenance stages. Guidelines
have been issued for regular safety audit of all NHs at design,
construction, pre-opening stage of NH projects as well as on existing
NHs for ensuring road safety. In addition to National High Speed
Corridors, Expressways, ring roads and bypasses, the Government has
also adopted a policy to improve all NHs as per the traffic requirement
but minimum Two Lane with paved shoulders standards except for
ecologically sensitive Himalayan region where development plan is
finalized considering the geological, environmental factors, etc. The
above developments have been undertaken for increasing logistics
efficiency as well as for improvement of regional connectivity and
overall accessibility to the NHs across the country.
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