{
  "id": 2513486,
  "title": "NHAI orders audits, inspections for new highways after Del-Dehradun Expressway defects",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/nhai-orders-audits-inspections-for-new-highways-after-del-dehradun",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T05:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nhai-orders-audits-inspections-for-new-highways-after-delhi-dehradun-defects-101787377380512.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stringent quality, safety, and event management guidelines for recently inaugurated national highways. These new measures include provisions for independent audits of major projects and more frequent inspections following highways opening to traffic. The directives were issued in response to a review of existing protocols, incorporating lessons learned from recent inauguration events by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.\n\nThe directive follows a recent incident with the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, which developed potholes, cracks, and a cave-in shortly after its April inauguration due to heavy rainfall. NHAI has also instructed its media teams to actively monitor print and digital media reports related to such events, preparing counter-narratives to address any reports deemed \"factually incorrect or politically motivated.\"\n\nUnder the new policy, greenfield expressways, high-speed corridors, specialized projects, and projects costing over ₹2,500 crore will undergo independent audits by reputed third-party entities or premier institutions like IITs and NITs. The audit may assess anticipated traffic impacts, drainage, and other related issues after the highway's opening.\n\nNHAI also mandates joint inspections of newly opened highway stretches, conducted weekly for the first three months and then fortnightly for the next three months. These inspections will involve both the contractor's project manager and the supervision consultant's team leader, evaluating pavement and riding quality, drainage, safety installations, and embankment slopes. Route patrol vehicles will regularly monitor the entire highway length after its opening.\n\nDefects or potential deterioration will be geo-tagged and reported immediately to the project director, contractor, or concessionaire, and supervision consultant for rectification. For large Prime Ministerial events, the circular outlines necessary arrangements for venue capacity, parking, connectivity, security, crowd management, and contingency measures for adverse weather. The number of officials at such functions should ideally be limited to 500, with event preparations completed at least 24 hours prior to the event.",
  "summary": "NHAI has issued new safety and quality guidelines for newly inaugurated highways, including independent audits and frequent inspections of major projects.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}