Major bridges, designed for a service life of 100 years or more, will undergo rigorous independent technical review before construction under this initiative.
The national highways development agency, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will empanel Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other reputed technical institutions to independently proof‑check hydraulic studies and design of major bridge structures across all new national highway projects.
This initiative aims to strengthen the safety, quality, and long‑term durability of India’s national highway network. Major bridges, designed for a service life of 100 years or more, will undergo rigorous independent technical review before construction. Around 12 IITs, including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Kharagpur, along with other premier institutions, have expressed willingness to collaborate with NHAI.
An NHAI release stated, “The initiative will enable NHAI to create a nationwide institutional framework for design vetting of critical bridge projects. The framework will help strengthen quality assurance practices and promote better design and execution of bridge projects.”
The scope of review will include structural design calculations, engineering drawings, construction methodologies, geotechnical investigations, and hydraulic studies. The framework will apply uniformly across projects implemented under different construction modes, ensuring consistent quality assurance across delivery formats.
This move aligns with NHAI’s broader objective of adopting best‑in‑class engineering practices and institutional mechanisms to support the development of a high‑quality, future‑ready national highway network.