NHAI highway design verification mandate

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has established a new mandate for the independent technical verification of complex engineering designs to improve safety and quality in highway infrastructure.

To implement this, the NHAI plans to empanel experts from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), government technical institutions, and other reputed organizations to perform “proof checking.” This process involves third-party verification of designs, drawings, and hydrological or hydraulic studies for critical assets, such as bridges intended to have a service life of 100 years or more.

The policy, scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2026, applies to new Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects, as well as certain ongoing projects. The verification specifically targets major river bridges with a design discharge of at least 3,000 cubic metres per second, structures with an effective span of 40 metres or more, and other complex structures. The initiative aims to ensure compliance with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes and reduce risks associated with design errors, such as construction delays or safety hazards.