MoRTH and JICA collaborate to enhance hill road infrastructure in India

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has joined forces with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop five comprehensive guidelines aimed at enhancing hill road infrastructure in India. These guidelines address the challenges faced by mountain regions, such as landslides and traffic congestion, which hinder economic development in uphill areas.

The guidelines, specifically designed for hilly regions including the North Eastern Region, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, aim to ensure the construction of high-quality and sustainable road projects. The focus is on improving road networks to facilitate economic growth.

The guidelines cover various aspects of road development, including the planning of roads in hilly terrain, slope protection and embankment using advanced technologies like soil nailing and geosynthetics, construction of tunnels on arterial roads, construction of mountain bridges employing innovative techniques such as cable-stayed bridges and arch bridges, and the operation and maintenance of mountainous highways encompassing traffic management, pavement maintenance, and drainage.

By adhering to these guidelines, road projects in hilly regions can be implemented with the utmost precision and efficiency. The result will be safer, more reliable road infrastructure that fosters better connectivity and contributes to the overall economic development of the regions.