NHBF urges realistic highway bidding and sustainable contractual frameworks as India’s highway sector transitions toward advanced, technology-driven monitoring. Specifically, the National Highways Builders Federation (NHBF) responded to a detailed presentation by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) outlining digital oversight via webcams, drone surveys, and automated defect detection. Furthermore, while welcoming improved transparency and live dashboard compliance tracking, the Federation highlighted the critical need for financial sustainability.
Balancing stricter compliance with sustainable project economics
The proposed NHAI monitoring framework is designed to automatically generate notices and track compliance timelines for highway maintenance deficiencies. Consequently, contractors face heavier scrutiny that necessitates robust operational and financial capacity.
Additionally, NHBF emphasized that contractors must adopt realistic bidding practices by thoroughly assessing construction costs, quality requirements, and maintenance obligations before entering tenders. Bids that fail to reflect actual execution costs expose firms to financial stress, contractual damages, and disputes.
| Highway Sector Parameter | NHBF & NHAI Digital Monitoring Guidelines |
| New NHAI Oversight Tools | Webcams, drone surveys, and automated defect detection dashboards |
| Federation Position | Urges realistic bidding and revised O&M payment frameworks |
| Core Maintenance Costs | Manpower, machinery, materials, drainage upkeep, and safety installations |
| Industry Outreach Plan | Expanding communication networks and WhatsApp access with NHAI assistance |
Demanding revised O&M payments and proactive maintenance
Beyond bidding practices, the Federation reiterated its longstanding concern regarding the adequacy of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) payments by NHAI. Specifically, NHBF called for revised payment provisions to accurately reflect actual maintenance expenses, including pavement repairs, road furniture, and safety gear.
Furthermore, the evolving monitoring regime requires contractors to transition from reactive repairs to preventive maintenance and strengthen internal inspection mechanisms. Therefore, as NHBF urges realistic highway bidding, constructive stakeholder engagement remains essential to ensure long-term infrastructure quality across India’s national highways.
