India Approves New Highway Expansion and Maintenance Projects
India’s national highway network is set for another round of capacity augmentation and upkeep as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has cleared a fresh set of project packages for widening and maintenance of key corridors across multiple states. The new approvals, taken under the broader mandate of expanding and strengthening the national highway system, are aimed at improving traffic flow, enhancing road safety, and ensuring more predictable travel times for both freight and passenger movement.
According to officials familiar with the development, the cleared packages cover a mix of four-laning, six-laning, and major maintenance works on existing national highways, along with targeted upgrades on high-traffic stretches that form part of economic corridors and feeder routes. The projects build on the ongoing expansion of the national highways network under central programmes such as Bharatmala Pariyojana and related schemes of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.[2]
Scope and nature of the cleared highway packages
The cleared packages span several regions, including northern, western, central, and southern states, with priority accorded to stretches that currently face congestion, safety challenges, or high maintenance requirements. Broadly, the approvals fall into three categories of work:
- Capacity augmentation on existing two-lane or four-lane stretches through widening and strengthening.
- Major periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of pavements, bridges, and culverts.
- Safety and service-level upgrades such as improved junctions, better signage, and roadside amenities.
In practical terms, this means that several existing corridors will be taken up for conversion from two lanes to four lanes, and from four lanes to six lanes, based on current and projected traffic volumes. The widening works will typically include strengthening of the pavement structure, construction or expansion of median strips, and provision of paved shoulders to improve safety margins for vehicles.
On maintenance, the cleared packages emphasise long-term performance-based contracts in many stretches, under which contractors are responsible not only for rehabilitation but also for maintaining specified service levels over a multi-year period. This approach is intended to shift the focus from short-term repairs to sustained asset management, and to reduce the frequency of ad-hoc interventions that disrupt traffic.
Institutional context and policy framework
NHAI functions as the primary implementing agency for the development, maintenance, and management of national highways entrusted to it by the Government of India. Over the past decade, the authority has been implementing a range of programmes including the National Highways Development Project and Bharatmala Pariyojana, under which large lengths of highways have been constructed, widened, or upgraded.[2]
The latest approvals for widening and maintenance are understood to align with the overall strategy of consolidating assets created under earlier phases of expansion, while also addressing capacity constraints on heavily used routes. This is consistent with the Ministry’s broader policy emphasis on strengthening connectivity for freight movement, linking production and consumption centres, and improving access to ports, economic zones, and border areas.[2]
Recent communications from the central government have highlighted that expansion of the national highways network is being carried out with a focus on corridor-based planning, integration with logistics hubs, and adoption of modern construction and maintenance practices.[2] The newly cleared packages for widening and maintenance fit within this framework as incremental interventions that keep key corridors operationally efficient and structurally sound.
Implementation modalities and contracting
The cleared highway packages are expected to be implemented through a mix of contract models that NHAI has been using in recent years. These may include the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model, the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), and long-term performance-based maintenance contracts, depending on project size, traffic profile, and financing structure.
Under the EPC model, contractors undertake design and construction within a fixed time and cost, with the government providing full funding. Under HAM, the project cost is shared between the government and the concessionaire, with the latter receiving fixed annuity payments linked to project performance over time. For pure maintenance and rehabilitation stretches, NHAI has increasingly adopted output- and performance-based contracts, where the contractor’s payment is linked to maintaining defined service levels on the road asset.
NHAI officials have also been emphasising the use of standardised bidding documents and digital tools for project monitoring. Many highway contracts now integrate provisions for quality control, third-party inspections, and use of technology-based systems for tracking progress, measuring pavement condition, and documenting compliance.
State-wise coverage and corridor priorities
While detailed package-wise information is typically released through separate notifications and tender documents, officials indicate that the cleared set of projects cuts across multiple states, covering both high-density urban-adjacent stretches and long inter-state links.
In northern and north-western India, widening and maintenance efforts are likely to focus on corridors connecting industrial clusters, agricultural mandis, and border trade routes. These include stretches that have seen sustained increases in freight movement owing to logistics growth and changes in commodity flows.
In the central and western regions, several national highways that link mining areas, manufacturing hubs, and port gateways are under pressure from heavy vehicle traffic. The cleared packages are expected to prioritise pavement strengthening and capacity augmentation on such stretches to reduce travel time variability and wear and tear on road infrastructure.
In the southern states, key radial links from major cities to peripheral districts and inter-state borders have experienced rapid growth in intra-regional movement. Widening of these roads from two to four lanes, and from four to six lanes near urban peripheries, is seen as critical for decongesting city entry points, improving safety, and facilitating movement of goods to ports and industrial corridors.
Alongside these corridor-level initiatives, certain packages emphasise major maintenance and rehabilitation on existing four-lane segments to ensure that earlier investments continue to provide designed levels of service. Typical works include overlaying worn-out pavements, repairing bridges, replacing expansion joints, strengthening embankments, and improving drainage systems, particularly in sections prone to flooding or waterlogging.
Safety, environment, and service-level features
The widening and maintenance packages have also been framed with a focus on improving safety outcomes and incorporating environmental safeguards, in line with current national guidelines and best practices.
On the safety front, proposed works are expected to include realignment of sharp curves where feasible, improvement of sight distances, construction of service roads in built-up stretches, and provision of proper signage, road markings, and crash barriers. Junctions and intersections on busy stretches are likely to be upgraded with channelisation, grade separation, or signalisation depending on traffic levels.
Pedestrian and local access needs have gained increased prominence in recent years, and NHAI has been mandated to provide adequate provisions such as footpaths in urban stretches, safe crossing facilities, and appropriate lay-bys and bus bays. These elements are expected to feature in the design and execution of the new packages to the extent applicable.
Environmental measures typically form part of the project preparation and approval process. These include carrying out environmental impact assessments where required, ensuring compensatory plantation for trees that need to be removed for widening, and taking steps to manage construction-related impacts such as dust, noise, and waste. In eco-sensitive areas, specific mitigation measures are usually mandated to balance connectivity needs with conservation considerations.[1]
Financing and budgetary interface
The newly cleared packages are expected to draw upon budgetary support from the central road sector outlay, as well as NHAI’s own resource-raising mechanisms. In recent years, highway development has been financed through a combination of budgetary allocations, toll revenues, monetisation of completed assets, and borrowings raised through bonds and other instruments.
The annual budget of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways provides for both capital expenditure on new works and allocations for maintenance of existing national highways. The ministry has frequently underscored that adequate maintenance funding is essential to preserve the value of investments already made in the network, and to avoid higher costs associated with deferred repairs.
On the NHAI side, the authority has implemented schemes to monetise operational highway stretches through instruments such as Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) concessions and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs). These efforts are intended to recycle capital into new projects while maintaining a pipeline of resources for maintenance and strengthening of existing corridors.
Administrative processes and monitoring
The clearing of fresh packages for widening and maintenance typically follows a structured administrative process within NHAI and the Ministry. Project identification is based on traffic surveys, condition assessments, and state government proposals. This is followed by preparation of detailed project reports, technical and financial appraisal, and approval at appropriate levels within the Authority and the Ministry.
Once packages are approved, NHAI issues tenders, evaluates bids, and awards contracts based on established procurement procedures. Contract management is supported by field-level project implementation units that coordinate with state governments, district administrations, and local stakeholders for land availability, utility shifting, and traffic management during construction.
NHAI has increasingly adopted digital dashboards and electronic monitoring systems to track project progress, measure adherence to timelines, and identify constraints early. This is complemented by periodic reviews at regional and headquarters levels to resolve issues pertaining to clearances, land, and inter-agency coordination.
NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have consistently highlighted that effective maintenance and timely capacity augmentation are critical to ensure that the national highway network continues to support economic growth, regional development, and improved connectivity for citizens.[2]
Expected impact on freight movement and logistics
The clearance of new packages for highway widening and maintenance is expected to have a direct bearing on freight movement, logistics efficiency, and the overall cost of transportation. Wider and better-maintained highways generally enable higher average speeds, fewer stoppages due to road condition, and reduced vehicle operating costs.
For logistics operators and fleet owners, improved highway conditions can translate into shorter turn-around times, lower fuel consumption, and reduced wear and tear on vehicles. These factors can in turn lower per-tonne-kilometre costs for goods movement, which has implications for supply chain competitiveness and pricing of transported commodities.
The corridor-based approach of highway development, aligning with freight flows between production centres, consumption markets, ports, and logistics hubs, is intended to anchor a more efficient national logistics grid. Upgrades on key trunk routes and feeder roads under the newly cleared packages will complement greenfield expressways and dedicated corridors that are already under execution or operation.
Implications for passenger connectivity and regional access
For passenger movement, the widening of highways and systematic maintenance can improve travel comfort, safety, and reliability. Wider roads with proper shoulders and lane markings reduce head-on collision risks, facilitate safer overtaking, and provide recovery space for drivers in case of emergencies.
Regions that rely heavily on road connectivity for access to urban centres, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and markets are likely to benefit from reduced travel times and smoother rides. This is particularly relevant in states where road transport remains the dominant mode of inter-district and inter-state travel.
Within districts and peri-urban zones, upgraded highway stretches can also influence patterns of development, enabling the emergence of logistics parks, industrial estates, and service centres along improved corridors. However, such changes typically occur over a longer time frame and are shaped by state-level planning, land use regulations, and local infrastructure policies.
Maintenance as a core infrastructure priority
The inclusion of substantial maintenance and rehabilitation works in the cleared packages is noteworthy from a public asset management standpoint. International experience and domestic assessments alike indicate that inadequate maintenance of road assets can lead to premature deterioration, higher lifecycle costs, and increased safety risks.
By bundling periodic maintenance into longer-term contracts with defined service outcomes, NHAI is seeking to ensure that highways remain in motorable condition throughout the contract period, with timely interventions for pavement distress, potholes, drainage issues, and roadside infrastructure. This approach can also reduce the need for frequent, disruptive patchwork repairs.
From a user perspective, sustained maintenance translates into fewer unplanned closures, less damage to vehicles, and more predictable travel times, especially during monsoon and peak traffic periods. For the government, it helps preserve the asset value of earlier capital expenditure on construction and widening of highways.
Interaction with state governments and local agencies
The execution of widening and maintenance packages on national highways frequently requires close coordination with state governments and local bodies. Issues such as land acquisition for additional carriageways, removal of encroachments, relocation of utilities, and provision of local access points are handled in consultation with state-level public works departments, district administrations, and municipal authorities.
State governments also play a role in integrating national highways with their own road networks, including state highways, major district roads, and rural roads. Smooth interchange between these categories of roads is essential to realise the full benefits of capacity augmentation on national highways.
In areas where widening requires cutting of trees or impacts local habitats, state forest departments and environment authorities are involved in the clearance process and in implementing compensatory measures. Public consultations may be undertaken in sensitive stretches to inform communities about the nature of works, anticipated impacts, and mitigation plans.[1]
Monitoring quality and timelines
To ensure that the cleared packages are implemented as planned, NHAI and the Ministry rely on a combination of contractual provisions, technical supervision, and oversight mechanisms. Contracts specify construction standards, material specifications, and quality benchmarks as per national codes and NHAI’s manuals.
Independent engineers or supervision consultants are often appointed for larger projects to monitor day-to-day works, verify quality, and certify payments. Regular inspections are carried out to check compliance with safety norms at construction sites, including signage, barricading, and traffic diversions.
Timelines for completion are typically built into contracts, along with provisions for liquidated damages in case of delays attributable to the contractor. At the same time, mechanisms exist to grant extensions where delays are caused by factors beyond the contractor’s control, such as delayed land availability or force majeure events.
Longer-term perspective on highway development
The latest round of approvals for widening and maintenance should be viewed in the context of a longer-term trajectory of highway development in India. Over the past several years, the length of national highways has expanded significantly, with more corridors being brought under central jurisdiction and upgraded to higher standards.[2]
Going forward, a sustained focus on both new construction and diligent upkeep will be necessary to maintain the momentum of connectivity-led growth. This includes ensuring that highway plans remain aligned with evolving freight patterns, urbanisation trends, and emerging sectors such as logistics, e-commerce, and tourism.
It also involves integrating road development with complementary investments in rail, ports, and inland waterways, so that the transport system operates as an interconnected network rather than as isolated mode-specific projects. The Bharatmala framework and associated logistics policies provide a basis for such integrated planning.[2]
The Government of India has stated that expansion of the national highway network, coupled with sustained maintenance of existing assets, is central to its objective of improving ease of doing business, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing regional connectivity.[2]
Next steps and public information
With the clearance of fresh packages, the next steps will involve issuance of tenders, finalisation of contracts, and commencement of work on the ground in the respective states. Project-specific details, including exact stretches, contract values, execution timelines, and implementing contractors, are generally made public through NHAI’s tender portals and official notifications.
Road users and local stakeholders can expect to see phased construction activities along the identified stretches, accompanied by temporary traffic management arrangements designed to minimise disruption. NHAI and state authorities typically advise motorists through signage and public advisories regarding diversions, reduced speed limits, and work zone safety requirements.
As works progress, central and state agencies are likely to monitor their impact on travel conditions and safety indicators. Feedback from road users, transport associations, and local communities often informs fine-tuning of traffic management measures and identification of additional safety interventions.
In the medium term, the completion of these widening and maintenance packages is expected to contribute to a more resilient and efficient national highway system, supporting economic activity, improving connectivity across states, and providing more reliable road infrastructure for citizens and businesses alike.
