NHAI Issues Guidelines to Strengthen Highway Safety

To improve road safety and the quality of National Highway construction, NHAI has mandated strict adherence to guidelines for installing Metal Beam Crash Barriers (MBCB) as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways standards.

Contractors must ensure that crash barriers meet the specifications outlined in the crash test reports and are installed following the manufacturer's methodology. A compliance certificate from the manufacturer, verifying that the barriers adhere to prescribed designs and standards, is also required. Additionally, contractors must ensure proper ground layer compaction during installation.

Manufacturers have been instructed to emboss key details—such as brand name, batch number, steel grade, and other identifiers—on each crash barrier element. They must also integrate QR codes for easy access to installation guidelines on-site. Engineers responsible for approvals must verify that the barriers meet all technical design standards.

These measures aim to enhance contractor accountability and ensure safer, higher-quality highways for users across the country.