Business · India Bureau
NHAI sets standards for toll plaza facilities, monitoring systems
India's National Highways Authority has released comprehensive guidelines to improve sanitation infrastructure and parking amenities at toll plazas across national highways. The new standards include mandatory accessible toilets and digital feedback mechanisms to ensure consistent maintenance.
LSN India ·
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued new operational guidelines aimed at standardizing and upgrading toilet facilities and parking infrastructure at toll plazas nationwide. The directive represents a significant push to enhance the traveler experience on major national highway corridors.
Under the new framework, every covered toll plaza must provide at least one universally accessible toilet facility to accommodate persons with disabilities and ensure inclusive access. The guidelines establish detailed specifications for sanitation standards, maintenance schedules, and facility upkeep across all NHAI-operated toll stations.
To strengthen accountability, the authority has mandated the implementation of QR code-based citizen feedback systems at toll plazas. This digital mechanism enables travelers to report facility conditions and service issues directly, creating a transparent channel for quality monitoring and grievance resolution.
The guidelines also introduce financial penalties for agencies and operators that fail to maintain prescribed standards. This enforcement mechanism is designed to incentivize consistent compliance and discourage neglect of facilities. The NHAI has indicated that regular audits and inspections will monitor adherence to the new protocols.
The move aligns with broader efforts to modernize highway infrastructure and improve service quality on India's expanding national highway network. Officials indicated that the guidelines would be progressively implemented across toll plazas to ensure standardized facilities for the millions of daily highway users.