NHAI Issues New Guidelines for Design and Construction of High-Speed National Highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has released comprehensive guidelines for the planning and design of high-speed access-controlled national highways, excluding expressways. This initiative aligns with the Central Government's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision and the long-term objective of developing a world-class national highway network.

The primary objective of these new guidelines is to bring uniformity to the standards for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for high-speed national highway corridors, ensure consistency in technical standards, and strengthen road safety. These regulations will apply to all upcoming 4-lane and 6-lane greenfield and brownfield high-speed controlled national highways.

Under the Government of India's strategic roadmap, the development of 50,000 kilometers of access-controlled high-speed corridors is envisioned by Viksit Bharat 2047, which is expected to improve connectivity and reduce logistics costs. Previously, separate standards were not available for high-speed controlled highways other than expressways, leading to variations in the preparation of DPRs. The new guidelines now provide a uniform set of technical and safety provisions.

From a safety perspective, additional measures will be implemented on these corridors to accommodate high-speed traffic. This includes special provisions for advance notification of exits and entry points to ensure drivers can use them safely.

Under the design framework, lane structures will be standardized based on traffic assessments: - 4-lane highways with a traffic flow of up to 15,000 vehicles will have a width of 60 meters. - Corridors with 4 and 6-lane structures and a traffic flow between 15,000 and 25,000 vehicles will have a width of 70 meters. - 6-lane highways with a traffic flow between 25,000 and 40,000 vehicles will also maintain a width of 70 meters.

To ensure seamless traffic operation, interchanges with ramps will be provided at intersections connecting expressways, national highways, state highways, and critical arterial roads, as well as roads leading to airports, ports, industrial areas, Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP), and major tourist destinations. Furthermore, there is a provision to construct a one-meter-high boundary wall along the outer edge of the corridor to prevent encroachments, unauthorized entry, and the intrusion of stray animals.