The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has put in place a new system requiring independent technical review of designs for major bridges and other complex structures built on national highways. This move aims to catch design problems early and ensure all structures meet Indian engineering standards and safety codes before construction begins.
Under the policy, designs will be independently checked by Indian Institutes of Technology, government technical institutions and specialist engineering firms with expertise in bridge design and water flow analysis. The system applies to new highway projects being built or financed by NHAI and takes effect from 1 December 2026.
Key facts
- Policy effective date: 1 December 2026
- Applies to: major bridges with a span of 40 metres or more; river bridges designed to handle 3,000 cubic metres of water per second or more; and other complex structures identified by NHAI
- Independent checkers: Indian Institutes of Technology, government technical bodies and private engineering firms on NHAI’s approved list
- Review scope: structural design calculations, analysis, drawings, and hydrological and hydraulic studies
- Applicable projects: all new Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects, and projects where design checks have not yet started
- Not mandatory for: projects where design verification has already been completed (though additional checks may be done for major bridges)
Which structures are covered
The policy focuses on structures where design failures could have serious consequences. This includes major bridges and viaducts crossing rivers, particularly those designed to handle large water volumes during floods. Structures with individual spans of 40 metres or longer are automatically covered. The policy also extends to other special or complex structures that NHAI identifies as requiring additional scrutiny, such as tunnels, flyovers in challenging terrain, or structures built in seismic zones.
Independent checkers will examine structural design calculations and drawings to verify they are correct and safe. For river and water-crossing structures, they will also review hydrological and hydraulic studies, which assess how much water the structure can handle, what flood levels it can withstand, whether the openings are adequate for water to flow through, and whether the foundations are protected against river-bed erosion.
How the new process works
When a contractor or concessionaire submits a design for approval under a highway project contract, NHAI will propose three institutions or firms from its approved panel of independent checkers. Depending on the project’s complexity and requirements, NHAI will select one or more of these to verify the design independently.
The selected checker will thoroughly examine the design and submit its findings and recommendations. The contractor or concessionaire must then consider these observations and modify the design as needed. Only after these changes are made will NHAI formally review and approve the final design according to the contract terms.
This staged approach ensures that potential problems identified during independent review are fixed before NHAI’s own approval, reducing the risk of costly design changes later or safety issues during construction.
Connection to existing standards
The independent verification ensures that all designs comply with the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes, which set the technical standards for road and bridge design in India, as well as other applicable specifications and contractual requirements. IRC codes cover everything from load-carrying capacity to durability and maintenance standards.
What this means for you
For citizens and businesses, this means highways and bridges built under NHAI projects will undergo stricter quality checks before construction, reducing the risk of structural failures, accidents or premature deterioration. Commuters, transporters and local communities near national highway projects can expect safer infrastructure.
For contractors and engineering firms, the policy introduces an additional step in the approval process. Contractors must be prepared to submit designs to independent reviewers and incorporate their feedback before seeking NHAI approval. Engineering consulting firms meeting NHAI’s criteria can register on the approved panel to offer independent checking services.
What happens next
NHAI will begin implementing the new system from 1 December 2026. All projects that have not yet started design verification will follow the new process. Existing projects where design checks are already underway are generally exempt, though NHAI may commission additional independent checks for particularly important or complex structures.