IITs and outside experts to check designs of major highway bridges from December

The National Highways Authority of India will have the designs of its major bridges and other critical structures checked by outside experts before they are approved, under a policy announced on Thursday.

Designs will be examined by empanelled Indian Institutes of Technology, reputed government technical institutions and experienced firms with expertise in bridge engineering and hydraulic studies. NHAI said the aim is to catch design problems early and make sure structures meet Indian Roads Congress codes, technical specifications and contract terms.

Which structures are covered

The policy applies to major bridges and viaducts, including river bridges with a design discharge of 3,000 cubic metres per second or more and any bridge or structure with an individual effective span of 40 metres or more. NHAI can add other special or complex structures to the list.

The checks will cover structural design calculations, structural analysis, drawings and, where relevant, hydrological and hydraulic studies. These look at water flow, flood levels, whether openings are wide enough for water to pass, and whether foundations are safe from river-bed erosion.

How it will work

The contractor or concessionaire will submit designs as now. NHAI will then propose three institutions or firms from its panel, and one or more will be picked to verify the design independently. Their observations go back to the contractor, who must make the changes needed before NHAI reviews or approves the design under the contract.

The policy takes effect on 1 December 2026. It will apply to all new EPC, hybrid annuity and build-operate-transfer highway projects, and to projects where design verification or proof checking has not yet started. Projects where those checks are done will generally be left out, though NHAI may order extra verification for major bridges and complex structures.