National Highways Authority of India

National Highways Authority of India

Logo

India National Highways Map
Abbreviation NHAI
Formation 1988[1]
Type Autonomous government agency
Legal status Active
Purpose Development and maintenance of National Highways
Headquarters G 5&6
Location
Coordinates Coordinates: 28°35′01″N 77°03′28″E / 28.583689°N 77.057886°E / 28.583689; 77.057886
Region served
India
Chairman
Yudhvir Singh Malik Malik[2]
Main organ
Board of directors[3]
Parent organisation
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Website www.nhai.org
Headquarters of the NHAI at Sector 10, Dwarka in New Delhi, India

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous agency of the Government of India, responsible for management of a network of over 70,000 km of National Highways in India.[4] It is a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. NHAI has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organisation for satellite mapping of highways.[5] Mr Yudhvir Singh Malik, IAS is the current Chairman while Dr. Yogendra Narain was the first Chairman of NHAI.

History

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 92,851.05 km (57,694.97 mi) in length.[6] The NHAI is also responsible of the toll collection on several highways.[7]

Indian Road Network

Indian road network[8]
ClassLength (km)
Expressways2,000 km (1,200 mi)
Total National Highways100,087 km (62,191 mi)
National Highways (Already 4/6 laned)22,900 km (14,200 mi)
National Highways which are being 4 or 6 laned (India)25,000 km (16,000 mi)
State Highways154,522 km (96,016 mi)
Major and other district roads2,577,396 km (1,601,520 mi)
Rural & other roads2,650,577 km (1,646,992 mi)
Total (approx)5,532,482 km (3,437,725 mi)

Projects

NHAI logo and caption

The NHAI has the mandate to implement the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The NHDP is under implementation in Phases.[6]

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.[9]

Golden Quadrilateral

The Golden Quadrilateral is a highway network connecting many of the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centres of India. A quadrilateral of sorts is formed by connecting Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai, and hence its name. The largest highway project in India and the fifth longest in the world was launched in 2001 by Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was completed in 2012.[10] It is part of the first phase of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and consisted of building 5,846 km (3,633 mi) four/six lane express highways at a cost of 600 billion (US$8.9 billion).[11]

North–South and East–West Corridor

The North–South and East–West Corridor is part of the second phase of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and consists of building 7,142 km (4,438 mi) kilometers of four/six lane expressways connecting Srinagar in the north and Kanyakumari in the south, Porbandar in the west and Silchar in the east, at a cost of US$12.317 billion (at 1999 prices).[12]

Criticism

A 2012 report prepared by the 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.[13] The report also alleged that contractors paid bribes and gifts, including gold coins, to “influence the actions” of officials and consultants of the National Highways Authority of India.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "NHAI Official Website". NHAI. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  2. "R.P. Singh is new NHAI chief". 11 June 2012.
  3. "NHAI List of Board of Directors". NHAI. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. "NHAI Road Network". NHAI. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  5. "NHAI signs MoU". Business Standard. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 "NHAI Official Website". NHAI. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  7. "NHAI plans toll collection at Kaniyur shortly". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  8. "Annual report 2010-2011". Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  9. "SARDP-NE" (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  10. "Golden Quadrilateral Highway Network". Road Traffic Technology. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  11. "Indian Road network". National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  12. "NHDP programme". National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Express Exclusive: World Bank cries fraud, graft in highways projects". Indian Express.
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