Government Plans Ratings for National Highway Corridors
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Government Plans Ratings for National Highway Corridors

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways plans to rank national highway (NH) corridors according to their performance, with the aim of identifying deficiencies and measures for improvement. The framework was outlined in a circular issued by the ministry on Thursday.

Two separate rating criteria will apply to access-controlled expressways and designated high-speed corridors on one side, and normal national highways on the other. The initiative is linked to the ministry’s revision of contractual provisions for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, which is intended to increase accountability for deficiencies and accident-prone locations. The ministry has also started rating highway contractors internally and linking some financial obligations to their performance.

The proposed corridor rating framework will cover three categories: Highway Efficiency, Highway Safety and User Experience. Efficiency will be assessed using peak congestion, calculated as the ratio of the maximum peak-hour traffic recorded over five consecutive days during the peak season to the hourly design capacity, along with the level of service across the stretch. The condition of the road will receive the highest weightage and will be measured through the pavement condition index (PCI), evaluated using a network survey vehicle (NSV).

The framework will also consider the availability of wayside amenities, toll plaza ratings and the presence of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). Safety parameters will include the annual frequency of accidents per 10 kilometres, project failures that result in closures, the number of fatalities and accident severity. The ministry has faced criticism over the condition of highways, while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently indicated that complaints help officials address errors by responsible contractors and authorities.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways plans to rank national highway (NH) corridors according to their performance, with the aim of identifying deficiencies and measures for improvement. The framework was outlined in a circular issued by the ministry on Thursday. Two separate rating criteria will apply to access-controlled expressways and designated high-speed corridors on one side, and normal national highways on the other. The initiative is linked to the ministry’s revision of contractual provisions for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, which is intended to increase accountability for deficiencies and accident-prone locations. The ministry has also started rating highway contractors internally and linking some financial obligations to their performance. The proposed corridor rating framework will cover three categories: Highway Efficiency, Highway Safety and User Experience. Efficiency will be assessed using peak congestion, calculated as the ratio of the maximum peak-hour traffic recorded over five consecutive days during the peak season to the hourly design capacity, along with the level of service across the stretch. The condition of the road will receive the highest weightage and will be measured through the pavement condition index (PCI), evaluated using a network survey vehicle (NSV). The framework will also consider the availability of wayside amenities, toll plaza ratings and the presence of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). Safety parameters will include the annual frequency of accidents per 10 kilometres, project failures that result in closures, the number of fatalities and accident severity. The ministry has faced criticism over the condition of highways, while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently indicated that complaints help officials address errors by responsible contractors and authorities.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Equipment

Terex to Acquire Keestrack, Expanding Crushing Portfolio

Terex Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Keestrack, a manufacturer of mobile crushing, screening and related equipment for the aggregates, recycling, construction and demolition industries. Financial terms were not disclosed.Founded in Belgium in 1988, Keestrack serves customers in more than 65 countries through a network of over 70 distributors. The acquisition will expand Terex Materials Processing’s crushing and screening portfolio and add manufacturing and distribution capabilities.After completion, Keestrack will continue as an independent brand within the Terex Ma..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

IES Taskforce Reviews Final Report on Power-Sector Digital Platform

The India Energy Stack (IES) Taskforce has reviewed its Final Report in New Delhi. The document sets out a strategy, architecture, governance framework and pathway to scale IES as digital public infrastructure for India’s power sector. The Ministry of Power constituted the Taskforce in June 2025.The report was presented by Prince Dhawan, Executive Director, REC Limited, and Swetha Ravi Kumar, Executive Director, FSR Global. Dr Ram Sewak Sharma, Chairperson of the Taskforce, outlined the way forward.IES is a common set of open standards and protocols designed to let utilities, regulators, mar..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

LANXESS, HINCOL Partner on Road Construction Technologies

LANXESS India and Hindustan Colas Private Limited (HINCOL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to assess technical and commercial opportunities in bitumen and asphalt modification for India’s infrastructure market.The companies will conduct laboratory and commercial-scale evaluations of Addipave CR 36, LANXESS’ cross-linking technology for polymer-modified bitumen (PMB). LANXESS will provide the product, technical expertise and trial support, while HINCOL will contribute testing facilities, operational support and performance assessments under local conditions. The trials will examin..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code