NHAI releases comprehensive guidelines to improve planning, design, safety, sustainability, and technological integration of high-speed national highways.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken a significant step towards developing world-class National Highway infrastructure with the release of new guidelines for High-Speed Access-Controlled National Highways, other than Expressways. These guidelines aim to ensure that the high-speed national highways are better designed and planned, safer, greener, and prepared to accommodate future traffic needs.
The emphasis on data-driven planning involves comprehensive traffic assessment, future demand planning, and incorporation of reliable sources like toll data to make estimates more accurate. These guidelines will apply to all upcoming four and six-lane Greenfield and Brownfield High-Speed Access-Controlled National Highways.
Technology-enabled construction is another key aspect, with the use of modern technology such as Automated and Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AI-MC) technology for embankments and highway pavements, in accordance with applicable Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) guidelines. This shift will facilitate better quality, consistency, and monitoring during National Highway development.
Environmental measures are incorporated from the planning stage, including landscaping and plantation at suitable locations, drip irrigation systems on national highway medians, and comprehensive drainage planning for safer water management.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
