Ministry Mandates Higher Quality for National Highway Service Roads

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a significant directive to its implementing agencies, mandating that service roads along national highways be designed and constructed to match the quality of the main highway. This move is a response to observations that service road stretches frequently show signs of damage prematurely.

A key reason identified for this rapid deterioration is the increased traffic load they often carry. On numerous occasions, traffic is diverted to service roads for maintenance or other essential works on the main carriageway. Furthermore, in urban and industrial areas, service roads can end up carrying the full volume of traffic as direct highway access is restricted. This constant heavy usage leads to rapid wear and tear, requiring more frequent and costly maintenance.

To combat this, the ministry has directed agencies to integrate adequate capacity enhancement and design life considerations into the initial design phase of all new projects. This ensures that service roads are built to withstand anticipated traffic loads and environmental conditions for their intended lifespan. The directive also specifically requires that service and slip roads are equipped with adequate drainage systems, adhering to the norms set by the Indian Road Congress.

**Impact**: This news is likely to have a moderate impact on the Indian stock market, specifically affecting companies involved in road construction and infrastructure development. While it may lead to slightly higher initial design and construction costs due to the enhanced quality and drainage requirements, it promises improved durability and reduced long-term maintenance expenses for highway infrastructure. This could lead to better asset longevity and potentially improved project execution quality for major infrastructure players. **Impact Rating**: 6/10

**Difficult Terms**: * **Carriageway**: The part of a road or highway intended for vehicular traffic. * **Premature damage**: Damage that occurs earlier than expected or before the end of the designed lifespan of a structure. * **Capacity enhancement**: Designing or upgrading infrastructure to handle a larger volume of traffic or load than it was originally designed for. * **Design life considerations**: Planning and engineering that takes into account the intended duration for which a structure or component is expected to remain functional and safe. * **Indian Road Congress**: A professional body in India that sets standards, specifications, and codes of practice for road and bridge construction.