National Highways Authority of India
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India National Highways Map
Abbreviation	NHAI
Formation	1988[1]
Type	Autonomous Government Agency
Legal status	Active
Purpose/focus	Development and maintenance of National Highways
Headquarters	G 5&6
Location	Sector-10, Dwarka New Delhi-110075
Coordinates	Coordinates: 28°35′01″N 77°03′28″E / 28.583689°N 77.057886°E / 28.583689; 77.057886
Region served	India
Official languages	Hindi English
Chairman	A.K.Upadhyay
Main organ	Board of directors[2]
Parent organization	Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Website	www.nhai.org

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous agency of the Government of India, responsible for management of a network of over 60,000 km of National Highways in India.^[3] It is a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Establishment[link]

The NHAI was created through the promulgation of the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. In February 1995, the Authority was formally made an autonomous body.^[1]
It is responsible for the development, maintenance, management and operation of National Highways, totaling over 71,772 km (44,597 mi) in length.^[4]

Projects[link]

NHAI logo & caption on an over-bridge, Salem, Tamil Nadu

The NHAI has the mandate to implement the National Highway Development Project (NHDP). The NHDP is under implementation in Phases.^[4]

• Phase I: Approved in December 2000, at an estimated cost of INR 300 Billion, it included the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), portions of the NS-EW Corridors, and connectivity of major ports to National Highways.
• Phase II: Approved in December 2003, at an estimated cost of INR 343 Billion, it included the completion of the NS-EW corridors and another 486 km (302 mi) of highways.
• Phase IIIA: This phase was approved in March 2005, at an estimated cost of INR 222 Billion, it includes an upgrade to 4-lanes of 4,035 km (2,507 mi)of National Highways.
• Phase IIIB: This was approved in April 2006, at an estimated cost of INR 543 Billion, it includes an upgrade to 4-lanes of 8,074 km (5,017 mi) of National Highways.
• Phase V: Approved in October 2006, it includes upgrades to 6-lanes for 6,500 km (4,000 mi), of which 5,700 km (3,500 mi) is on the GQ. This phase is entirely on a DBFO basis.
• Phase VI: This phase, approved in November 2006, will develop 1,000 km (620 mi) of expressways at an estimated cost of INR 167 Billion.
• Phase VII: This phase, approved in December 2007, will develop ring-roads, bypasses and flyovers to avoid traffic bottlenecks on selected stretches at a cost of INR 167 Billion.

The progress of the NHDP can be tracked from the NHAI official website, which updates maps on regular basis.

NHAI helps in implementing Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North Eastern Region (SARDP-NE); a project to upgrade National Highways connecting state capitals to 2 lane or 4 lane in north eastern region.^[5]

Controversies[link]

A 2012 report prepared by World Bank’s Institutional Integrity Unit alleged that fraudulent and corrupt practices were being followed by Indian contractors working on national highway projects funded by it, and sought a thorough investigation into the matter.^[6] The report also alleges that contractors paid bribes and gifts, including gold coins, to “influence the actions” of officials and consultants of the National Highways Authority of India^[7]

See also[link]

• National Highways Development Project
• List of National Highways in India
• Transport in India

References[link]

v t e Transport in India Road National Highways Authority of India · National Highways Development Project · Ministry of Road Transport and Highways · List of National Highways in India · Indian Expressways Rail Indian Railways · High-speed rail in India · Ministry of Railways · Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India · List of railway stations in India · Suburban rail in India · Rapid transit in India Air Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur · List of airports in India · List of commercial airlines in India · Low cost airlines in India Water Shipping Corporation of India · Ports in India · Ministry of Shipping · Inland Waterways Authority of India Miscellaneous Indian licence plates · Driving licence in India · Road signs in India