The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to strengthen safety checks for critical bridge infrastructure by making independent design verification by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other reputed technical institutions mandatory for major bridge projects from December 2026. The initiative aims to improve structural safety, design reliability and the long-term durability of bridges being developed across the National Highway network.
Under the framework, major bridges designed for a service life of 100 years or more will undergo independent technical scrutiny before construction. The review process will cover structural design calculations, engineering drawings, construction methodologies, geotechnical investigations and hydraulic studies. The objective is to identify potential design deficiencies before construction begins and strengthen quality assurance for critical infrastructure.
NHAI has initiated the empanelment of IITs and other leading technical institutions to carry out the verification. Around 12 IITs, including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur, along with other premier institutions, have expressed willingness to participate in the initiative. Their involvement is expected to establish a nationwide pool of independent experts for reviewing bridge designs and associated engineering assessments.
The framework will provide a uniform mechanism for checking designs across National Highway projects, irrespective of the mode of implementation. It will apply to projects executed through engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), the hybrid annuity model (HAM) and the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, ensuring that critical bridge structures are subject to consistent technical scrutiny.
Hydraulic studies will form an important part of the verification process, particularly for bridges where water flow and site conditions influence structural design. Geotechnical investigations and construction methodologies will also be examined alongside engineering calculations and drawings. The integrated review is intended to assess the assumptions and technical parameters underpinning each design before work proceeds on site.
The initiative comes as India continues to expand its National Highway network and develop major road corridors requiring complex bridge infrastructure. Independent verification is intended to provide an additional layer of technical assurance beyond the checks carried out by project consultants, helping reduce the risk of design-related deficiencies and long-term operational problems.
By involving academic and technical institutions with specialist engineering expertise, NHAI aims to strengthen accountability in bridge design and promote standardised engineering practices across projects. The framework is also expected to support more reliable decision-making during the planning and design stages, when potential structural issues can be addressed before they affect construction.
The move forms part of NHAI’s broader efforts to improve quality assurance and adopt advanced engineering practices across the highway network. Its implementation will place greater emphasis on independent scrutiny of critical structures, with the aim of developing safer and more durable bridges capable of meeting long-term infrastructure requirements.