The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued new quality, safety and event-management guidelines for newly inaugurated national highway projects after a review of existing protocols and lessons from recent inauguration events by the Prime Minister, tightening checks following defects on the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway. The guidelines introduce provisions for independent audits of major projects and require more intensive inspections after roads open to traffic. The NHAI said the addendum supersedes an earlier addendum issued in October 2025. Greenfield expressways, high-speed corridors, specialised projects and projects with a total capital cost of more than Rs 25 billion (Rs 25 bn) may undergo independent audit by a reputed third-party entity or premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology and National Institute of Technology, with audits to examine anticipated traffic impact, drainage and related issues. The authority has directed joint inspections of newly opened stretches by the contractor or concessionaire project manager and the supervision consultant team leader. These inspections are to be weekly for the first three months and fortnightly for the next three months, covering pavement and riding quality, drainage, safety installations and embankment slopes. Route patrol vehicles will routinely traverse the full length of highways after opening, and defects or anticipated deterioration are to be geo-tagged and immediately reported to the project director, contractor or concessionaire and supervision consultant for rectification. The procedures establish regular monitoring and rapid rectification mechanisms intended to limit early-life deterioration. The guidelines follow the emergence of potholes, cracks and a cave-in on the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway after intense rain. For large prime ministerial events the circular sets out arrangements noting attendance can range from 25,000 to 0.1 million (0.1 mn) people and calls for venue capacity, parking, connectivity, security, crowd management and contingency measures for adverse weather. It recommends that the number of officials at a function be preferably restricted to 500 and that event preparations should be completed at least 24 hours before the programme. The authority also directed media teams to monitor print and digital reports and, in coordination with offices, prepare ready responses or counter narratives to address reports considered factually incorrect or politically motivated.