National Highways Authority of India, Chairman, Act, Functions

National Highways Authority of India 

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of the National Highways network in India.

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National Highways Authority of India Act 

The NHAI Act, or the National Highways Authority of India Act, was enacted by the Parliament of India in 1988 to establish the NHAI as an autonomous agency to manage the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in the country. The Act empowers the NHAI to undertake the construction, operation, and maintenance of National Highways, as well as to regulate and control traffic on these highways.

Some of the provisions of the NHAI Act include:

• Establishment of the NHAI as an autonomous agency to manage the National Highways network in India.
• Powers to the NHAI to undertake the construction, operation, and maintenance of National Highways.
• Provision for financing of National Highway projects through various means, including loans, grants, and bonds.
• Establishment of a fund, called the National Highways Fund, to finance National Highway projects.
• Powers to the NHAI to acquire, hold, manage, and dispose of property, as well as to enter into contracts and agreements.
• Provision for the regulation and control of traffic on National Highways.
• Powers to the NHAI to levy and collect tolls and fees on National Highways.
• Provision for the establishment of a National Highways Tribunal to adjudicate disputes and grievances related to National Highways.

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National Highways Authority of India Functions

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has several functions related to the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in India. Some of its key functions are:

• Planning, development, and maintenance of National Highways in India.
• Undertaking the construction, operation, and maintenance of National Highways.
• Implementation of the National Highways Development Program (NHDP) to improve the quality and capacity of National Highways.
• Ensuring road safety and efficient movement of traffic on National Highways.
• Collection of tolls and fees for the use of National Highways.
• Financing of National Highway projects through various means, including loans, grants, and bonds.
• Implementation of measures for environmental and social sustainability of National Highway projects.
• Monitoring and evaluation of National Highway projects.
• Facilitating the adoption of new technologies and best practices for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
• Collaboration with state governments, other agencies, and private sector partners for the development and maintenance of National Highways.

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National Highway Authority of India Achievements

Sanctioned Projects

In August 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved several projects, including the 6-lane Agra-Gwalior highway, the 4-lane Kharagpur-Moregram highway, and the 6-lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad highway.

Foundation Stone Laying

In February 2024, the foundation stone was laid for the Dudhdhari elevated flyover on NH-34, the Kotdwar bypass on NH-534, and the 4-laning of the Bhaniawala (Dehradun) to Hrishikesh section of NH-07.

Funding

The Union Budget for 2024 allocated Rs 1.68 lakh crore to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the year 2024-25.

Focus on Upgrading Highways

The government has instructed NHAI to prioritize upgrading existing national highways. NHAI and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) are mainly responsible for building national highways and expressways in India.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has achieved several other milestones, including:

• Construction of over 40,000 km of national highways across the country.
• Implementation of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems to reduce congestion and travel time.
• Introduction of the FASTag program to promote cashless transactions at toll plazas.
• Launch of the Bharatmala Pariyojana program to enhance connectivity and infrastructure development.
• Implementation of green highway initiatives to promote eco-friendly construction practices.
• Use of innovative technologies such as drones, GPS, and 3D mapping for faster and more efficient project execution.
• Improvement in road safety measures through the implementation of various measures such as crash barriers, traffic signals, and speed limit enforcement.

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National Highway Authority of India Chairman

Santosh Kumar Yadav, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1995 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, assumed the role of Chairperson of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in December 2022.

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Current Status of total length of Highways

As of 2024, India has about 150,000 kilometers of national highways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is in charge of building and maintaining these highways, which are essential for the country’s road transport.

List of National highways in india

National Highway Authority of India UPSC 

Knowledge about National Highways and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is important for the UPSC Exam as it falls under the Indian Polity and Governance as well as the Economic Development of India section of the General Studies paper. Questions related to the construction, maintenance, and development of the national highway network, its significance for transportation, and the role of NHAI in managing the network can be asked in the exam. 

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