The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has published new guidelines for planning and designing high-speed, access-controlled national highways (excluding expressways). Released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, these guidelines aim to make upcoming four and six-lane highways safer, more sustainable, and better equipped to handle future traffic demands. They apply to all new Greenfield and Brownfield high-speed access-controlled national highway projects.
Key facts
- Guidelines issued by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
- Applies to four and six-lane Greenfield and Brownfield high-speed access-controlled national highways
- Mandates Automated and Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AI-MC) technology for embankments and pavements
- Requires Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system on high-speed corridors
- Landscaping and plantation to be part of project planning from outset
- Drip irrigation systems required on medians
- Water harvesting structures mandated in loop areas
Data-driven traffic planning
The guidelines place strong emphasis on accurate traffic forecasting to support long-term highway planning. Highway designers must assess both existing traffic and traffic that will shift from other routes once the new highway opens. The planning process must also factor in expected increases in goods movement driven by economic and commercial expansion across regions. To improve accuracy, traffic projections will draw on toll collection data and other reliable information sources. This approach ensures that highways are sized appropriately to meet real future demand rather than being built on guesses.
Modern construction technology
A key shift outlined in the guidelines is the adoption of advanced construction methods. Automated and Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AI-MC) technology will be used during the building of embankments and highway pavements, following applicable rules set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This technology-driven approach promises better quality control, greater consistency across projects, and improved monitoring throughout construction. The move aligns with the government’s broader push to modernise infrastructure development.
Modernised tolling systems
The guidelines mandate the installation of Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling on high-speed corridors. This system allows vehicles to pass toll plazas at highway speeds without stopping, reducing congestion, travel time and fuel consumption. MLFF tolling is considered a smoother, more efficient alternative to traditional toll booths where vehicles queue to pay.
Green corridors and landscaping
Recognising the environmental impact of highway construction, the guidelines require landscaping and plantation to be planned from the start of project design, not added as an afterthought. Suitable locations for green cover include loop areas, spaces beneath flyovers, medians, and other appropriate spots, selected based on local climate, terrain and environmental conditions. To support these plantations and reduce maintenance burden, drip irrigation systems will be installed on highway medians, ensuring water is used efficiently.
Improved drainage and water management
The guidelines treat drainage as a critical planning component that must be addressed in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) from the early stages. Planners must identify where rainwater will be safely disposed and how water from the highway and adjacent areas will be managed to prevent flooding. Water harvesting structures will be built in loop areas and other locations that lack natural drainage outlets, capturing rainwater for reuse or controlled release. Special attention is given to water management around underpasses, flyovers and depressed medians, which are prone to waterlogging. Drainage plans must clearly mark water disposal points and outline arrangements for handling rainwater, protecting the highway infrastructure from water damage.
What this means for you
Commuters on new high-speed highways will benefit from smoother, faster-moving traffic through MLFF tolling and better road design. Journeys are likely to become quicker and more predictable as highways are built to genuinely match future traffic. Environmental quality around highways should improve through mandatory green cover and water management. For highway contractors and construction firms, the guidelines introduce requirements to adopt AI-MC technology, which demands investment in modern equipment and training but delivers better-quality finished highways.
What happens next
All upcoming four and six-lane high-speed access-controlled national highway projects will be required to follow these guidelines in their planning and design phases.