In a bid to streamline and expedite the approval process for national highways, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has unveiled a new standard operating procedure (SoP) aimed at going paperless.
The freshly minted SoP, slated for nationwide implementation this month, mandates the adoption of digital processes for all projects managed by entities such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), state governments, Border Roads Organisation, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, and MoRTH Project Implementation Units (PIUs).
Key among the changes is the creation of electronic files (e-files) for all highway projects, encompassing comprehensive details like project name and sanctioned cost. These files will be maintained at project zone sections and the ministry, facilitating swift sanction and approval processes that will now take minutes instead of days, once all necessary details and sanctions are secured online.
Additionally, the appointment of the relevant chief engineer has been prioritized to ensure expedited due diligence and project execution.
Under the new system, communication of sanctions will be conducted electronically, with project zone sections tasked with maintaining records of estimates, processing, and sanctions within the e-files, including signed copies of sanction letters and technical notes.
The planning and monitoring zone will be granted master access to real-time data sets, providing comprehensive sanction details for the entire country. Post-project award, data will be updated on the Management Information System (MIS) and subsequently locked in accordance with agreements.
These reforms are anticipated to accelerate the highway sanction process, thereby enhancing execution efficiency. This development comes amidst a plateau in highway development in recent years, with construction activity only picking up in FY24, reaching 12,300 km. The government aims for further acceleration in project awards and construction, particularly in line with the Vision 2047 plan, which envisages over 50,000 km of access-controlled and complex highways for execution.