In an unprecedented initiative aimed at improving the quality of India's national highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a first-of-its-kind inspection drive. The authority has dispatched approximately 60 officers from its headquarters in New Delhi to various parts of the country. Their mission is to conduct thorough on-ground evaluations of the operation and maintenance of specific highway stretches, with a special focus on the "general look, feel, and comfort" experienced by everyday users.
Direct Ground Reporting to Eliminate Excuses
This significant step comes amid growing public and institutional concern over the proper upkeep of national highway corridors. Unlike routine reports filtered through field offices, this exercise is designed to get unfiltered feedback directly from the ground. Sources indicate that the NHAI is likely to institutionalize such surprise inspections to cover more stretches in the future, reducing reliance on reports submitted by field officers or contractors.
The deployed officials have been given clear and specific mandates. They are required to identify and record all deficiencies impacting aesthetics, safety, smoothness, and overall user comfort. A senior official highlighted that riding quality has been a major concern. "Since all the field units had sufficient advance notice to improve maintenance standards, now they have no excuse for any deficiency on their part," the official stated.
Real-Time Defect Logging and Contractor Ban
A critical directive of this inspection blitz is the mandatory use of technology for transparency. Officers have been instructed to immediately feed any identified defects and deficiencies into the NHAI One app on the spot, ensuring real-time logging and accountability. This process aims to prevent delays or alterations in reporting.
Furthermore, to ensure unbiased and genuine assessments, the NHAI has strictly prohibited any personnel from contractors or concessionaires from accompanying the inspecting officials during these checks. This move is intended to allow officers to evaluate conditions without any external influence or pressure.
Verifying Automated Surveys and Action Reports
The ground inspections complement the NHAI's technological efforts. The authority already uses Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) to automatically capture deficiencies like potholes or cracks along highway corridors. The reports generated by these NSVs are shared with field officers and contractors, who are then required to submit Action Taken Reports (ATRs).
A key task for the headquarters officers now is to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of these submitted ATRs. They will cross-check if the corrective actions mentioned in the reports have been properly implemented on the ground.
Upon completion of their field inspection, each officer is required to submit a summary report for necessary follow-up action by the NHAI management. This end-to-end process, from real-time app logging to final summary reports, represents a robust new mechanism for the authority to enhance accountability and ensure that India's national highways meet the desired standards of safety, quality, and comfort for all citizens.
