NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (NHAI)

Development and Expansion

• NHAI undertakes the construction, upgradation, and widening of national highways to improve connectivity and support economic growth. This includes converting single-lane roads to multi-lane highways.
• It implements various flagship projects like the Golden Quadrilateral and the North-South and East-West corridors, which aim to enhance the overall infrastructure and connectivity across the country.

Maintenance and Management

• NHAI ensures that the highways are well-maintained and safe for travel. This includes regular repairs, resurfacing, and the upkeep of infrastructure like bridges and tunnels.
• The authority manages traffic on national highways, ensuring smooth flow and reducing congestion through measures like installing toll plazas and implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

Regulation and Enforcement

• NHAI oversees the collection of tolls on national highways. This revenue is used for the maintenance and development of the highway network.
• It enforces regulations related to highway usage, safety standards, and quality control during construction and maintenance activities.

Promotion of Safety and Sustainability

• NHAI implements various safety measures, including the construction of flyovers, bypasses, and pedestrian crossings, to reduce accidents and improve safety for all road users.
• The authority ensures that highway projects comply with environmental regulations, aiming to minimize the ecological impact and promote sustainable development practices.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

• NHAI encourages private sector participation through PPP models, attracting investment for highway development projects. This helps in leveraging private capital and expertise for infrastructure development.

• Golden Quadrilateral is a project to connect four major cities of India – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
• Bharatmala Pariyojana is a comprehensive road development program aimed at optimizing the efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country.
• North-South and East-West Corridors Projects aimed at improving connectivity between major cities and regions in India.

The Green Highways Policy 2015, launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is an initiative to promote the eco-friendly development of National Highways in India. Here are its key goals:

• The policy aims to plant trees and shrubs along National Highways to create green corridors. This not only beautifies the highways but also addresses environmental concerns.
• Trees act as natural filters, absorbing air pollutants and dust. This helps in improving air quality around highways, which is especially important considering the increasing number of vehicles on the road.
• Planting vegetation on embankments helps prevent soil erosion, extending the highways' lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.
• The policy encourages the involvement of various stakeholders like farmers, the private sector, NGOs, and government institutions in plantation and maintenance activities.