# India's highways get new design rulebook

> NHAI standardises lane widths, safety measures and interchange designs across all new high-speed corridors.
- Title: India's highways get new design rulebook · The Economic Times
- Summary: NHAI standardises lane widths, safety measures and interchange designs across all new high-speed corridors. India now has uniform technical standards for…
- Keywords: nhai, national highways authority of india, highway design standards, lane configuration, high-speed corridors, road safety, india infrastructure, viksit bharat 2047, access-controlled highways, traffic capacity planning, India's, highways
- Source: The Economic Times — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/nhai-standardises-4/6-lane-high-speed-roads-new-rules-will-change-lane-widths-exits-safety-measures-for-highway-drivers/articleshow/134390536.cms
- Author: ET Online
- Published: 2026-09-21T13:28:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nhai, national highways authority of india, highway design standards, lane configuration, high-speed corridors, road safety, india infrastructure, viksit bharat 2047, access-controlled highways, traffic capacity planning
## NHAI sets uniform highway standards
India's National Highways Authority introduced new guidelines for four and six-lane high-speed corridors to bring consistency to road design, improve safety and ensure smoother traffic flow.
## Lane width depends on traffic volume
Four-lane highways serving up to 15,000 vehicles daily will be 60 metres wide. Four-lane highways for 15,000 to 25,000 vehicles and six-lane highways for 25,000 to 40,000 vehicles will both be 70 metres wide.
## Safety features for high-speed driving
New guidelines include advance signage for highway exits and entries so drivers can anticipate access points. One-metre boundary walls will prevent unauthorised entry and keep stray cattle off the carriageway.
## Interchanges connect major hubs
Guidelines mandate interchanges at crossings with other highways and connections to airports, ports, industrial areas and tourist destinations to maintain access while supporting uninterrupted corridor movement.
## Consistency in project planning
Until now, no separate standards existed for access-controlled high-speed highways beyond Expressways, leading to variations in Detailed Project Reports. The new framework establishes common technical and safety provisions.
## Aligned with long-term infrastructure goals
The guidelines support India's Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap, which aims to develop 50,000 kilometres of access-controlled high-speed corridors to improve connectivity and reduce logistics costs.
## Key takeaway

India now has uniform technical standards for building four and six-lane high-speed highways, replacing inconsistent practices that varied project to project.