The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen integrated infrastructure development across India.

Under the MoU, NHAI and KRCL will jointly identify, plan and pursue areas of mutual interest, enabling closer coordination in road and rail infrastructure planning. The partnership is expected to be particularly beneficial in complex and challenging terrains, where integrated solutions can enhance efficiency, safety and economic outcomes.

Key areas of cooperation include the integrated development of national highway and railway infrastructure, such as rail-cum-road bridges and tunnels, multi-modal logistics parks, inter-modal hubs and grade separators at locations where highways intersect or run alongside railway corridors. The MoU also envisages the development of common utility corridors wherever feasible.

The collaboration will allow NHAI to leverage KRCL’s extensive experience in executing projects in difficult terrains, including specialised support for design review, proof-checking, safety assessments and engineering inputs for complex bridge and tunnel projects, as well as slope stabilisation.

The agreement also covers safety and quality audits of existing tunnels and slope protection works, along with training programmes for NHAI officers and staff at KRCL’s training institute. In addition, the two organisations will work together to adopt advanced technologies and digital solutions for project monitoring, traffic and asset management, smart infrastructure development and data sharing to improve planning and operational efficiency.

The MoU marks a strategic step towards integrated transport infrastructure development, reinforcing India’s efforts to build resilient, efficient and future-ready road and rail networks.