The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for digitizing the sanction process of all road projects starting from April 1, 2024. The initiative aims to establish a paperless, transparent, and accountable system for project approvals, which will be mandatory for projects under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Other stakeholders, including state governments, Border Road Organisation, and project implementation units (PIUs) under the road ministry, will also follow these SOPs.
The ministry plans to integrate the concerned chief engineers of national highways from state governments into its e-office portal to adhere to the proposed procedures. All project zone sections of road projects at the ministry's headquarters will be responsible for creating e-files for national highway works requiring sanction from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.