The partnership strengthens road‑rail coordination in difficult terrains, delivering integrated solutions for efficiency, safety and economic growth.
In a step towards integrated infrastructure development, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Konkan Railway Corp. Ltd (KRCL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, signed a five‑year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday. The MoU establishes a broad framework for cooperation in resource optimisation and exploration of mutually beneficial opportunities.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairperson, NHAI, along with senior officials from both organisations at NHAI Headquarters in New Delhi. It aims to leverage the complementary strengths and technical expertise of both institutions to support India’s infrastructure growth and enhance connectivity.
Under the umbrella MoU, NHAI and KRCL will collaborate to identify, plan, and pursue areas of mutual interest. The partnership will enable closer coordination in road and rail infrastructure planning, particularly in complex terrains where integrated solutions can deliver greater efficiency, safety, and economic value.
Key areas of cooperation include planning for the integrated development of national highway and rail infrastructure, such as rail‑cum‑road bridges and tunnels, multimodal logistics parks, intermodal hubs, and grade separators at locations where highways intersect or coexist with railway lines. The MoU also envisages the development of common utility corridors wherever feasible.
The collaboration will allow NHAI to draw on KRCL’s extensive experience in executing projects in difficult terrains, including specialised support for design reviews, safety aspects in complex bridge and tunnel projects, and slope stabilisation. It also covers safety and quality audits of existing tunnels and slope protection works, as well as training programmes for NHAI officers and staff at KRCL’s training institute.
In addition, the MoU provides for sharing technical expertise, including best practices in project management, engineering design, construction methodologies, handling geological challenges, and environmental management. Collaborative research and development in innovative construction materials and techniques, as well as project‑specific consultancy services, are also envisaged.
Optimising Land Assets
Both organisations will explore opportunities for joint identification and utilisation of surplus or underutilised land parcels for commercial development, logistics facilities, and other infrastructure projects along the national highway network and the Konkan Railway corridor. The collaboration will also focus on enhancing logistics and connectivity by planning efficient first‑mile and last‑mile solutions for freight and passenger movement, integrating road and rail networks, and providing solutions towards establishing dedicated freight corridors or linkages to enhance goods movement efficiency.
Further, NHAI and KRCL will collaborate on adopting advanced technologies and digital solutions for project monitoring, traffic and asset management, and smart infrastructure solutions, along with data sharing to improve planning and operational efficiency.
To facilitate effective implementation, a joint working group (JWG) comprising representatives from both organisations will be constituted. The JWG will identify specific projects for collaboration, conduct preliminary assessments and feasibility studies, develop detailed project proposals, monitor progress, and resolve operational issues.