Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Chintan Shivir 2026, calls for safer, greener highways and better project planning

October 5, 2026 2:57 PM

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Chintan Shivir 2026, calls for safer, greener highways and better project planning

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday inaugurated Chintan Shivir 2026 in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar, calling for stronger project planning, integrated road safety measures and wider adoption of technology to deliver high-quality, sustainable highway infrastructure. The two-day national conclave on highway infrastructure is being held at Tent City 2 near the Statue of Unity in Narmada district under the motto “Gatishakti se Pragati”. It brings together state Tran...

FASTag annual pass crosses one crore milestone since August 2025 launch

September 29, 2026 12:06 PM

FASTag annual pass crosses one crore milestone since August 2025 launch

The FASTag Annual Pass has crossed the milestone of one crore passes issued since its launch on August 15, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said on Monday. "The milestone reflects growing acceptance of the Annual Pass among private vehicle owners for providing a seamless and economical travel option on the National Highways and Expressways," added the Ministry. The annual pass has been introduced as a seamless and economical travel option for non-commercial vehicle own...

NHAI mandates 80% plantation and 90% survival rate for highway completion certification

September 9, 2026 6:10 PM

NHAI mandates 80% plantation and 90% survival rate for highway completion certification

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has tightened compliance requirements for plantation and landscaping along National Highway projects, making adequate plantation a key condition for the issuance of the Provisional Certificate of Completion (PCC) or Provisional Commercial Operation Date (PCOD). Under the revised guidelines, plantation must cover at least 80% of the available Right of Way (ROW) earmarked for plantation, while the saplings planted must have a minimum 90% survival ra...

Guwahati–Tezpur Corridor to boost Assam’s tea, tourism and trade; Rs 8,970-crore highway project to cut travel time by half

August 18, 2026 7:01 PM

Guwahati–Tezpur Corridor to boost Assam’s tea, tourism and trade; Rs 8,970-crore highway project to cut travel time by half

The proposed 135.87-km four-lane, access-controlled Guwahati–Tezpur Corridor in Assam is set to strengthen the movement of passengers and freight while giving a major push to the state’s tea industry, tourism, trade and regional connectivity. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) earlier this month approved the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ proposal for the corridor, which will connect Baihata Chariali near Guwahati with Tezpur, excluding the 15.11-km Mangaldoi Bypas...

NHAI expands digital FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas nationwide

August 18, 2026 6:58 PM

NHAI expands digital FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas nationwide

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expanded its online FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas across the country, allowing eligible commuters to apply for monthly passes digitally through the Rajmargyatra mobile app. The initiative is aimed at making National Highway travel more convenient by eliminating the need for eligible local commuters to visit toll plazas and submit physical documents for obtaining a Local Pass. Under the digital system, residents living within a...

Where heritage meets modern mobility: How the Ganga Elevated Corridor will transform Varanasi

August 5, 2026 8:47 PM

Where heritage meets modern mobility: How the Ganga Elevated Corridor will transform Varanasi

Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and India's spiritual capital, is set for a major infrastructure transformation with the construction of a 46.039-km six-lane Greenfield Ganga Elevated Corridor. Approved by the Union Cabinet on July 15, 2026 at an estimated cost of ₹14,447.64 crore, the project aims to modernise urban mobility while preserving the city's cultural and spiritual heritage. Welcoming more than 15 crore pilgrims and tourists annually, Varanasi has ...

NHAI introduces barrier-free tolling at Shahjahanpur Plaza on Delhi–Jaipur Highway

August 2, 2026 2:28 PM

NHAI introduces barrier-free tolling at Shahjahanpur Plaza on Delhi–Jaipur Highway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has successfully implemented the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at Shahjahanpur Toll Plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur section of National Highway-48, making travel from Manesar to Jaipur completely barrier-free. With the rollout at Shahjahanpur, the toll plaza has become the third on the Delhi–Jaipur corridor in Rajasthan to adopt the MLFF system, following Daulatpura and Manoharpura toll plazas. According to the Ministry of Road Transpo...

NHAI launches nationwide initiative to develop world-class public toilets at toll plazas

July 30, 2026 9:57 PM

NHAI launches nationwide initiative to develop world-class public toilets at toll plazas

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a nationwide initiative to develop world-class public toilet facilities at toll plazas across the country, introducing a technology-driven, performance-based maintenance framework aimed at improving hygiene, accessibility and commuter convenience on the National Highway network. The initiative seeks to upgrade sanitation facilities through innovative performance-based contracts that will ensure high standards of cleanliness, functiona...

NHAI opens national highway data to government research institutions to boost infrastructure innovation

July 21, 2026 7:05 PM

NHAI opens national highway data to government research institutions to boost infrastructure innovation

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has unveiled a new framework to share National Highway infrastructure and operational data with premier government research institutions, a move aimed at accelerating innovation and promoting data-driven solutions for safer, more durable and cost-effective highway development. The initiative is expected to streamline academic collaboration by replacing the earlier system of signing separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for every research pr...

NHAI launches digital local pass, ‘MargMitra’ Help Centre on RajmargYatra App

July 20, 2026 7:27 PM

NHAI launches digital local pass, ‘MargMitra’ Help Centre on RajmargYatra App

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expanded the digital services available on the RajmargYatra mobile application by introducing a digital Local Pass facility and the MargMitra Help Centre, aimed at making National Highway travel more convenient and enhancing citizen-centric digital services. The new initiatives have been launched in line with the Government of India's Digital India vision and its focus on improving the ease of living through technology-driven public services. ...