New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced comprehensive guidelines for planning and designing access-controlled high-speed National Highways, excluding Expressways. The new framework aims to bring uniformity to highway design, strengthen safety standards and improve traffic movement across India’s expanding high-speed road network.
The guidelines will apply to upcoming four- and six-lane Greenfield and Brownfield high-speed access-controlled National Highways.
The move is part of the Government of India’s broader infrastructure vision under Viksit Bharat 2047, which includes developing a large network of access-controlled high-speed corridors to improve connectivity and reduce logistics costs.
New Framework to Standardise Highway Planning
NHAI said variations have so far been observed in the standards used for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for access-controlled high-speed National Highways other than Expressways.
There were no separate, uniform standards specifically covering the planning and design of these corridors. The new guidelines seek to address this gap by providing a common framework covering technical specifications, traffic requirements and safety provisions.
The framework is expected to bring greater consistency to the planning of future high-speed National Highway projects.
Highway Width to Depend on Traffic Flow
The new NHAI high-speed highway guidelines standardise lane configurations based on projected traffic movement.
The prescribed configurations include:
- Corridors carrying up to 15,000 vehicles will have a four-lane highway with four-lane structures and a 60-metre corridor width.
- Corridors with traffic between 15,000 and 25,000 vehicles will have a four-lane highway with six-lane structures and a 70-metre width.
- Corridors carrying between 25,000 and 40,000 vehicles will have a six-lane highway with six-lane structures and a 70-metre width.
This traffic-based approach is intended to ensure that highway capacity and infrastructure are planned according to actual and projected movement requirements.
New Safety Measures for High-Speed Traffic
Road safety is a key component of the new guidelines.
Special provisions have been included for advance notification of exits and entries. This will allow motorists to anticipate upcoming access and egress points and make safer decisions while travelling at high speeds.
The standardised approach is also aimed at improving operational efficiency by creating more predictable highway layouts across different corridors.
For road users, clearer access arrangements and advance information can help reduce sudden lane changes and improve navigation at high-speed sections.
Interchanges to Connect Major Roads and Destinations
The guidelines also prescribe interchanges with ramps at important crossings to maintain uninterrupted traffic movement.
These interchanges will be provided at crossings with:
- Expressways and National Highways
- State Highways and important arterial roads carrying substantial traffic
- Roads connecting major traffic-generating destinations
Such destinations include ports, airports, Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), industrial areas and major tourist destinations.
The approach is designed to provide controlled connectivity while preventing frequent interruptions to traffic on the main high-speed corridor.
Boundary Walls to Strengthen Access Control
The new framework also places emphasis on preventing unauthorised access and encroachments along high-speed corridors.
A one-metre-high boundary wall will be constructed along the outer edge of the corridor. The provision is intended to strengthen access control and prevent unauthorised entry.
It will also help prevent stray cattle from entering high-speed National Highway corridors, addressing a road-safety concern that can create risks for motorists.
50,000-Km Access-Controlled Corridor Vision
The new guidelines align with the government’s long-term plan to develop around 50,000 km of access-controlled high-speed corridors under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
A larger access-controlled highway network is expected to strengthen connections between major economic centres and improve the movement of passengers and freight.
Better highway connectivity can also contribute to lower logistics costs by enabling more efficient movement between production centres, industrial areas, ports, airports and other major destinations.
Building a More Consistent High-Speed Highway Network
The new NHAI framework goes beyond individual road projects by establishing common planning and design principles for future access-controlled National Highways.
With standardised traffic-based configurations, dedicated interchange provisions, advance exit and entry notifications and stronger access control, the guidelines aim to create more consistent conditions across the country’s high-speed highway network.
The initiative represents another step towards developing a safer, more seamless and future-ready National Highway system while supporting India’s broader infrastructure and connectivity goals under Viksit Bharat 2047.
