New Delhi : The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced comprehensive guidelines for the planning and design of access-controlled high-speed national highways, excluding expressways. The guidelines have been issued in line with the Government of India’s long-term vision of developing a world-class national highway network under Viksit Bharat 2047. They will apply to upcoming four- and six-lane greenfield and brownfield high-speed access-controlled national highway projects. The framework aims to bring greater uniformity to the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), improve consistency in technical standards and strengthen road safety and operational efficiency across the national highway network.
Focus on uniform standards
According to NHAI, the new guidelines address the absence of separate standards for planning and designing access-controlled high-speed national highways other than expressways. Variations have been observed in the technical standards used for preparing DPRs for such corridors. The new framework provides a uniform set of technical and safety provisions for upcoming projects. The guidelines are also aligned with the government’s roadmap to develop 50,000 km of access-controlled high-speed corridors under Viksit Bharat 2047. The initiative is aimed at improving connectivity and reducing logistics costs.
Additional safety measures for high-speed corridors
A key focus of the guidelines is the incorporation of additional safety measures suited to high-speed traffic conditions. Special provisions have been included for advance notification of exits and entries. This will allow highway users to anticipate upcoming access and egress points and navigate them more safely.
Standardised highway configurations
The guidelines prescribe standardised lane configurations based on detailed traffic assessments.
For corridors with traffic flow of up to 15,000 vehicles, a four-lane highway with four-lane structures will have a proposed width of 60 metres. For corridors carrying between 15,000 and 25,000 vehicles, a four-lane highway with six-lane structures will have a proposed width of 70 metres. For traffic flows between 25,000 and 40,000 vehicles, a six-lane highway with six-lane structures will also have a proposed width of 70 metres.
Interchanges to support seamless movement
Interchanges with ramps will be provided at crossings with expressways, national highways, state highways and important arterial roads that generate substantial traffic. The guidelines also provide for connectivity to major traffic-generating destinations, including ports, airports, Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), industrial areas and major tourist destinations.
Boundary walls for stronger access control
To strengthen access control and prevent unauthorised entry, encroachments and the movement of stray cattle onto high-speed corridors, the guidelines prescribe a one-metre-high boundary wall along the outer edge of the corridor. NHAI said the comprehensive guidelines are intended to standardise the planning and design of fully access-controlled national highways and ensure greater consistency across high-speed highway projects. The initiative is expected to support the development of a safer, more efficient and future-ready national highway network while contributing to the government’s infrastructure and connectivity objectives under Viksit Bharat 2047.