Viksit Bharat / NHAI Issues New Guidelines for High-Speed National Highways

New Delhi, Sept 21: In line with the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced comprehensive guidelines for the design and development of access-controlled high-speed National Highways, excluding expressways, officials said on Monday.

The new framework aims to standardize planning and design across upcoming 4/6 lane Greenfield and Brownfield corridors, ensuring uniformity in Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), strengthening road safety, and improving operational efficiency.

Need for Uniform Standards

Currently, no separate specifications govern the planning of high-speed access-controlled highways other than expressways, leading to variations in DPR preparation. The guidelines address this gap by prescribing a uniform set of technical and safety provisions. They align with the government’s roadmap to develop 50,000 km of access-controlled corridors under Viksit Bharat 2047, aimed at reducing logistics costs and boosting connectivity.

Safety and Design Provisions

A key focus is on safety measures suited to high-speed traffic. Provisions include advance notification of exits and entries to help drivers anticipate and navigate safely. Lane configurations will be standardized based on traffic flow assessments:

• Corridors up to 15,000 vehicles: four-lane highways with 60-metre width.
• Corridors with 15,000–25,000 vehicles: four-lane highways with six-lane structures, 70-metre width.
• Corridors with 25,000–40,000 vehicles: six-lane highways and structures, 70-metre width.

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Access Control and Infrastructure

Interchanges with ramps will be provided at crossings with expressways, national highways, state highways, and arterial roads, as well as near ports, airports, logistics parks, industrial hubs, and tourist destinations. To prevent unauthorized access and stray cattle entry, a one-metre-high boundary wall will be constructed along the outer edge of corridors.

The initiative underscores NHAI’s commitment to building a safe, seamless, and future-ready highway network, reinforcing India’s long-term infrastructure goals.