NHAI Launches Rating System for Highway Contractors
To ensure accountability and improve the quality of National Highway construction and maintenance, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a comprehensive performance rating system for concessionaires.
Under this system, contractors will be evaluated every six months based on their compliance and quality metrics. The ratings will be publicly accessible on the NHAI website and social media platforms.
The assessment will primarily rely on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which measures pavement health on a scale from 0 (Failed) to 100 (Excellent) as per IRC 82:2023 guidelines. PCI calculations will consider parameters like roughness, potholes, cracks, and rut depth. Advanced technology, including Laser Crack Measurement Systems and Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs), will collect and process data under NHAI supervision.
In addition, defect rectification compliance through the NHAI One App will factor into the ratings, contributing 20% of the score, while PCI accounts for 80%. The app allows digital monitoring of over 95 defect types.
Concessionaires scoring below 70 out of 100 will be categorized as "non-performers," disqualifying them from bidding on new projects until their ratings improve. Ratings will be reviewed biannually at both project and overall concessionaire levels.
NHAI's initiative aims to enhance transparency, set quality benchmarks, and ensure a safer, more seamless travel experience for highway users.
