**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways on January 29th, 2026, to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the progress and status of National Highway (NH) projects, particularly in Maharashtra, quality assurance measures, monitoring mechanisms, project categorization, and implementation of advanced toll collection and intelligent transportation systems. The document outlines the current status of NH projects and the government's initiatives to improve project quality and efficiency.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Highway Project Status:**
* 1242 NH projects (27,656 km) are under construction across India, including 126 NH projects (2,761 km) in Maharashtra.
* Target completion by March 2026: 405 NH projects (8,403 km) across India, including 61 NH projects (1,241 km) in Maharashtra.
* **Quality Assurance Initiatives:**
* Policy for Adoption of Automated & Intelligent/Machine-aided Construction (AI-MC) in NH projects issued.
* Mandatory assessments of road conditions through Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) for all NHs and Expressways.
* Analysis of High-Resolution Imagery from Drone Surveys in Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) using AI/ML.
* Deployment of Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCVs) in select states for diagnostic assessments.
* Deployment of Third Party Quality Auditors for independent quality audits.
* **Project Monitoring and Expediting Progress:**
* Government closely monitors construction progress and proactively works with stakeholders to resolve issues.
* Periodic review meetings at various levels and measures to improve liquidity of funds for contractors/developers.
* State Governments conduct coordination meetings led by the Chief Secretary.
* Unresolved issues are escalated through the Project Monitoring Group and "PRAGATI".
* **Project Types and Construction Activities:**
* Projects involve construction of expressways, greenfield access control NH corridors, upgradation of existing NHs to two/four/six-lane standards, standalone tunnels, bypasses, fly-overs, under-passes, and long-term road safety measures.
* **Toll Collection and Intelligent Transportation Systems:**
* The satellite-based user fee collection system is under deliberation due to security, privacy, and operational concerns.
* Government to implement Automatic Number Plate Registration (ANPR) based barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System with FASTag.
* National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) implementing Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) in 4/6-lane NH projects, including CCTV/ANPR camera installation and monitoring at command centers and toll plazas.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Project Implementing Agencies, State Governments, Contractors/Developers**
* **Impact**: Required to adhere to enhanced quality control measures and monitoring processes. Expected to participate in review meetings and resolve issues promptly to ensure timely project completion.
* **Action Required**: Implement AI-MC policy, utilize NSV for road condition assessments, cooperate with quality auditors, and actively participate in review meetings.
**Stakeholder: Vehicle Users**
* **Impact**: Benefit from improved road quality and safety, as well as potentially faster and more efficient toll collection through the implementation of ANPR-based ETC systems and ATMS.
* **Action Required**: Adopt FASTag and be prepared for the implementation of ANPR-based toll collection.
**Stakeholder: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing ATMS in 4/6-lane NH projects and ensuring the monitoring of these systems.
* **Action Required**: Ensure the installation and effective operation of CCTV/ANPR cameras and the monitoring of video footage at command centers and toll plazas.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highway Projects: Construction, maintenance, and upgrades of National Highways across India, with specific focus on projects in Maharashtra.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The central ministry responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining roads and highways in India.
Maharashtra: Indian state with a significant number of National Highway projects under consideration.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Agency responsible for implementing Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) in National Highway projects
PRAGATI: A Project Monitoring Group to review projects with unresolved issues.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 190
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA
190. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:
SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:
SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:
SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:
Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of expected progress and completion status of National
Highway projects by March 2026, particularly in Maharashtra;
(b) whether the Government has addressed quality assurance concerns
and streamlined execution processes, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the mechanisms in place for monitoring project timelines and
ensuring time-bound completion;
(d) the breakdown of highway construction across different project
categories; and
(e) whether the Government is implementing satellite-based toll
collection and intelligent transportation systems, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) As on date, 1242 National Highway (NH) projects covering a length of
27,656 km are under construction in the country which inter alia includes
126 NH projects covering a length of 2,761 km in Maharashtra. Out of this,405 NH projects covering a length of 8,403 km are targeted for completion
by March, 2026 which inter alia includes 61 NH projects covering a length
of 1,241 km in Maharashtra.
(b) The Government has taken the following initiatives for improvement
of quality control systems in implementation of NH works: -
i. Policy for Adoption of Automated & Intelligent/Machine-aided
Construction (AI-MC) in NH projects issued;
ii. Assessments of road conditions through Network Survey Vehicle
(NSV) mandated for all NHs and Expressway works at the time of
completion and every six months thereafter, which is monitored
through electronic platform. NSV system for road condition
assessment has further been revamped using analytics for
enforcement of contractual provisions during Operation and
Maintenance (O&M) through dedicated central cell;
iii. 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;
iv. 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, for diagnostic
assessments of overall health and quality of works from time to time
during project implementation phases. Decision has been taken to
diversify this initiative in some more States;
v. Deployment of Third Party Quality Auditors for independent quality
audits of NH works on a case-to-case basis.
(c) The Government closely monitors construction progress and is pro-
actively working with project implementing agencies, State Governments,
contractors/developers, to resolve issues/bottlenecks in projects and speed
up construction of NHs. Periodic review meetings are being held at various
levels, and several steps have been taken to improve liquidity of funds
available with contractors / developers, to expedite progress.Further, many State Governments conduct coordination meetings led
by the Chief Secretary to resolve issues affecting project execution.
Projects where issues remain unresolved are escalated for further review
through the Project Monitoring Group and “PRAGATI”.
(d) The above on-going projects involves construction of expressways
and greenfield access control high speed NH corridors, upgradation of
existing NHs to two-lanes with paved shoulders/four-lane/six-lane NH
standards carriageway, construction of standalone tunnels, bypasses, fly-
overs, under-passes and bridges, long term road safety measures, etc.
(e) The Apex Committee and High-Level Empowered Committee
consisting of Experts from Industry and Academia, in view of security and
privacy considerations and overall operational control, have recommended
further deliberations for the Satellite-based user fee collection
system. Satellite-based user fee collection system is not currently
operational anywhere on National Highways (NHs). However, the
Government has decided to implement Automatic Number Plate
Registration (ANPR) based barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)
System with available technology at selected sections of National
Highways as an added facility along with FASTag where the user fee shall
be charged from the vehicle users without having to stop, slow down or
stay in a given fee plaza lane.
As regards Intelligent Transportation Systems, National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) is implementing Advanced Traffic Management
System (ATMS) in all 4/6-lane NH projects. ATMS is also being implemented
in NH projects executed in past as standalone work or through Change of
Scope (CoS). ATMS includes installation of CCTV/ANPR cameras which
capture video footage 24x7 and its monitoring is being done at command
centres and toll plazas.
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