**Executive Summary**
This document from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, dated November 2025, mandates the use of the National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) portal in the planning and Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation for all highway projects. It requires a dedicated analysis based on NDEM datasets to be included in DPRs, aiming to enhance data accuracy and reduce field uncertainties. The effective date is immediate upon issuance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NDEM Portal Overview:**
* NDEM is a comprehensive geospatial platform for disaster management, risk assessment, and infrastructure planning.
* It is developed and maintained by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
* The portal hosts multi-temporal satellite data, thematic layers, and decision support tools for monitoring natural hazards.
* **NDEM Geospatial Layers:** The NDEM portal contains several geospatial layers relevant to highway project planning, including:
* Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and slope maps
* Land Use Land Cover (LULC) maps
* Seismic & Landslide risk mapping
* Hydrological, Drainage, & river basin networks
* Flood plain and inundation zones
* Soil and geotechnical layers
* **Mandatory NDEM Analysis in DPRs:**
* All Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for highway projects must include a dedicated analysis based on NDEM datasets.
* The analysis should cover the following aspects:
* Route Alignment Optimization
* Floodplain and Drainage Planning
* Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
* Environmental and Social Screening
* Landslide risk mapping (in case of hill roads)
* Alignment approval proposals must indicate if NDEM analysis has been conducted and present the results for committee consideration.
* DPR consultants must document the use of NDEM datasets, tools, and maps in their reports.
* **NDEM Resources:**
* NDEM Portal: https://ndem.nrsc.gov.in/#/
* NDEM User Guide: https://ndem.nrsc.gov.in/documents/downloads/v4/user\_manual\_v4.pdf
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries of all States/UTs Public Works Department dealing with National Highways. All Engineers-in-Chief and Chief Engineers of Public Works Departments of States/ UTs dealing with National Highways.
**Impact:** Required to implement the NDEM portal for highway projects and ensure compliance with the new requirements.
**Action Required:** Must ensure that all highway projects under their jurisdiction include NDEM analysis in DPRs, and bring the contents of this letter to the notice of all concerned parties.
**Stakeholder:** National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), NHIDCL
**Impact:** Must ensure all highway projects undertaken incorporate NDEM analysis.
**Action Required:** Integrate NDEM data usage into their project planning and DPR preparation processes.
**Stakeholder:** DPR Consultants
**Impact:** Required to incorporate NDEM datasets and analysis into highway project DPRs and document their usage.
**Action Required:** Access and utilize the NDEM portal and resources, including the user guide, to perform the required analysis and document it in the DPRs.
**Stakeholder:** All CEs and ROs of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
**Impact:** Will be required to oversee compliance with the new NDEM mandate on highway projects.
**Action Required:** All ROs are to spread this information to all consultants.
**Stakeholder:** Alignment Approval Committees
**Impact:** Will be required to evaluate the NDEM analysis as part of the approval process.
**Action Required:** Verify that all alignment approval proposals include NDEM analysis results before consideration.
Key Entities Referenced
National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM): A geospatial platform for disaster management, risk assessment, and infrastructure planning, developed by NRSC and ISRO under the guidance of NDMA.
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs): Reports for highway projects that are now required to include a dedicated analysis based on NDEM datasets.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: The issuing ministry responsible for highway planning, requiring the use of NDEM in highway projects.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The authority guiding the development of the NDEM platform.
NH-12037/71/2024/PM-GatiShakti/Zone-I I/4061991/2025
F. No. NH-14013/9/2020-P&M
Government of India
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
(P&M Section)
Transport Bhawan, 1, Parliament Street New Delhi-110001
Dated: …. November, 2025
To,
1. The Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries of all States/UTs Public Works Department dealing
with National Highways, other centrally sponsored schemes.
2. The Chairman, National Highways Authority of India, G-586, Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi-
110075.
3. The Managing Director, NHIDCL.
4. All Engineers-in-Chief and Chief Engineers of Public Works Departments of States/ UTs
dealing with National Highways and other centrally sponsored schemes.
5. The Director General (Border Roads), Seema Sadak Bhawan, Ring Road, New Delhi- 110010.
Subject: Use of National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) Portal in Planning and
DPR Preparation of Highway Projects - Reg.
Sir/ Madam,
The National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) has been developed and
maintained by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The portal
serves as a comprehensive geospatial platform for disaster management, risk assessment, and
infrastructure planning. It hosts multi-temporal satellite data, thematic layers, and decision
support tools for monitoring natural hazards such as floods, landslides, droughts, and cyclones.
2. NDEM provides high-resolution datasets and analytical layers that can support
infrastructure planning by enabling evidence-based decision-making and minimizing potential
risks associated with natural disasters.
3. The NDEM portal contains several geospatial layers of direct relevance to highway project
planning and alignment studies. Key layers useful for planning include following:
Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and slope maps (for route alignment and cut-fill
optimization)
Land Use Land Cover (LULC) maps (for vegetation covers, environmental and urban
impact assessment)
Seismic & Landslide risk mapping (for alignment selection)
Hydrological, Drainage, & river basin networks (for cross-drainage structure design and
hydraulic analysis)
Flood plain and inundation zones (for identifying flood-prone areas)NH-12037/71/2024/PM-GatiShakti/Zone-I I/4061991/2025
Soil and geotechnical layers (for geotechnical feasibility and pavement design
considerations)
These datasets will substantially enhance the planning, feasibility, and Detailed Project Report
(DPR) preparation of highway projects by improving data accuracy and reducing field
uncertainties.
4. Accordingly it has been decided that all Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for highway
projects shall mandatorily include a dedicated analysis based on NDEM datasets, including the
following aspects:
Route Alignment Optimization: Use floodplain, DEM, and land use layers to identify
optimal alignment minimizing exposure to natural hazards.
Floodplain and Drainage Planning: Integrate flood extent and river basin layers to plan
adequate cross-drainage structures and prevent future inundation issues.
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment: Incorporate flood risk and geomorphological layers
to evaluate terrain stability and hazard exposure.
Environmental and Social Screening: Use Land Use Land Cover (LULC) and settlement
layers to anticipate resettlement and environmental clearance challenges.
Landlside risk mapping in case of hill roads
5. All alignment approval proposals to be placed before the different committees shall
invariably indicate if the analysis on NDEM has been carried out and to place the results of the
analysis for consideration of the committee.
6. DPR consultants should also document the use of NDEM datasets, tools, and maps in
their reports, indicating how they influenced project design and mitigation planning.
7. NDEM website can used with following link
NDEM Portal: https://ndem.nrsc.gov.in/#/
NDEM User Guide:
https://ndem.nrsc.gov.in/documents/downloads/v4/user_manual_v4.pdf
8. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.
9. It is requested that the contents of this letter may be brought into the notice of all
concerned for needful compliance.
(Shoba Basil)
Under Secretary to Govt of India
planningmorth@gmail.com
Copy to:
1. All CEs in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
2. All ROs of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways:- with a request to spread the same to
all consultants
3. The Secretary General, Indian Roads CongressNH-12037/71/2024/PM-GatiShakti/Zone-I I/4061991/2025
4. SE S&R Section:- with a request to upload on the compendium of circulars in MoRTH Website
5. NIC- with a request to upload on Ministry's website under "What's new"
Copy for information and necessary action to:
1. PS to Hon'ble Minister (RT&H)
2. PS to Hon'ble MOS (RT&H)
3. Sr. PPS to Secretary (RT&H)
4. Sr. PPS to DG (RD) & SS
5. Sr. PPS to AS&FA
6. Sr. PPS to Pr. CCA, MoRT&H
7. Sr. PPS / PPS / PS to ADG-I/II/III/IV/V
8. Sr. PPS / PPS / PS to AS (H)/ AS (NHIDCL)/ JS (Toll) / JS (LA&C)