The road ahead: Quality construction, maintenance of highways

New Delhi, Dec 31 After constructing a record 56,700 km of National Highways in the country in the last 10 years, the road transport and highways ministry will shift focus on quality of construction and maintenance of NHs in 2025. To enhance accountability and assess the quality of construction and maintenance of National Highways, state-owned National Highways Authority of India earlier this month introduced a comprehensive rating system for performance assessment of the concessionaires engaged in such works. In 2025, the NHAI is aiming to set new benchmarks in quality construction and management of National Highways and provide a safer, smoother, and seamless travel experience to National Highway users. Sonowal noted that the beginning of construction of the largest all-weather deep-draft mega port of India -- Vadhavan Port -- to become one of the top-10 ports of the world, along with commencement of major infrastructure projects in Kandla Port, Tuticorin Port, and Galathea Bay Transshipment Hub in the coming year would have far-reaching implications for creating a rejuvenated and vibrant Port and maritime ecosystem across the nation.