The initiative establishes a uniform mechanism to improve the safety, quality and durability of critical structures on national highways.
To strengthen structural safety and quality assurance across national highway projects, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a uniform system for independent checking of designs and drawings of major bridges and other critical structures.
Under the new policy, designs of identified structures will be independently verified by empanelled Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), reputed government technical institutions and experienced engineering firms specialising in bridge design and hydraulic studies.
“Through this initiative, NHAI aims to establish a consistent and robust quality‑assurance mechanism for critical national highway structures that will support development of a safer and stronger highway network across the country,” the national road developer said in a statement.
Independent verification will help identify design‑related issues early and ensure compliance with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes, technical specifications and contractual requirements.
Structures Covered
The policy applies to major bridges and viaducts, including river bridges with a design discharge of 3,000 cubic metres per second or more, and structures with an individual effective span of 40 metres or above. Other complex or special structures identified by NHAI will also be included.
Verification will cover structural design calculations, analysis, drawings and, where applicable, hydrological and hydraulic studies to assess water flow, flood levels, foundation safety and erosion risks.
Design Verification Process
Under the revised procedure, contractors or concessionaires will submit designs for review. Three institutions or firms will be proposed from NHAI’s empanelled list, and one or more will be selected based on project requirements to carry out independent verification.
The selected entity will examine the design and submit its observations and recommendations. Contractors will incorporate necessary changes before NHAI reviews or approves the final design in line with contractual provisions.
The policy takes effect on December 1 and will apply to all new engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), hybrid annuity model (HAM) and build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects, as well as those where design verification has not yet begun. Projects with completed proof checks will generally be exempt, though additional verification may be undertaken for major bridges or complex structures.