Now Reading: NHAI mandates independent proof checks for complex bridge designs
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NHAI mandates independent proof checks for complex bridge designs
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has mandated independent proof-checking of designs and drawings for bridges, viaducts, tunnels and other complex structures, effective 1 December. Contractors or concessionaires must appoint a proof-checking consultant from NHAI’s empanelled IITs, government technical institutions or reputed firms to review design calculations, structural drawings and hydrological studies before submission for approval. The policy applies to all NHAI projects where design-setting and proof-checking have not begun before December.
The Union government informed Parliament in August that 471 bridges on National Highways have structural distress, with repairs completed on 159 and the remaining 312 targeted for completion by December 2028. NHAI said independent scrutiny is essential for structural safety, serviceability, durability and compliance with Indian Roads Congress codes. The cost of proof-checking for EPC, HAM and BOT projects will be borne by the contractor or concessionaire, and delays will not automatically entitle contractors to an extension of time or other claims against NHAI.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The mandate shifts the burden of design verification from NHAI’s own approval process to independent third-party experts before submission. This closes a gap where designs could reach approval without independent technical scrutiny. The focus on 100-year service life structures signals that past distress on 471 bridges, only 159 repaired so far, has driven the change. Contractors face tighter timelines and costs with no automatic entitlement to extensions, raising the financial risk of design delays. The policy targets projects not yet past proof-checking by December, so ongoing work is unaffected. Compliance will be tested when the rules take effect on 1 December.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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