NHAI orders audits, inspections for new national highways inaugurated by PM Modi

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued new quality, safety and event-management guidelines for newly inaugurated national highway projects, including provisions for independent audits of major projects and more intensive inspections after highways open to traffic.

The guidelines, issued on Friday, come after a review of existing protocols and incorporate “experience and lessons learnt” from recent inauguration and foundation-stone laying events.

The move comes weeks after the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April, developed potholes, cracks and a cave-in following intense rain.

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NHAI has also directed its media teams to proactively monitor print and digital media reports after such events and, in coordination with regional offices, prepare ready responses or “counter narratives” to address reports it considers “factually incorrect or politically motivated”.

In its policy circular, NHAI said the addendum supersedes an earlier addendum issued in October 2025.

Greenfield expressways, high-speed corridors, specialised projects and projects with a total capital cost of more than ₹2,500 crore may undergo an independent audit by a reputed third-party entity or premier institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and National Institute of Technology (NITs). The audit may examine the anticipated impact of traffic after opening, drainage and related issues.

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The 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 are to be conducted weekly for the first three months and fortnightly for the next three months, covering pavement and riding quality, drainage, safety installations and embankment slopes.

Route patrol vehicles will also regularly cover the full length of highways after opening. Defects or anticipated deterioration are to be geo-tagged and immediately reported to the project director, contractor or concessionaire and supervision consultant for rectification.

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The circular sets out arrangements for large Prime Ministerial events, noting that attendance can range from 25,000 to one lakh people. It calls for adequate venue capacity, parking, connectivity, security, crowd management and contingency measures for adverse weather.

It also says the number of officials at a function should preferably be restricted to 500 and that event preparations should be completed at least 24 hours before the programme.