The project, referred to as the Development of National Highways Climate Adaptation Policy and Guidelines (HighCAP), examined vulnerability and risk across 30 study sites covering about 2,000 km of national highways, representing diverse climatic zones and hazard types. Based on the studies, the draft includes a range of adaptation options alongside transport emergency management plans and traffic evacuation plans to enhance resilience of highway networks.
Adaptation measures and recommendations on codes and manuals were developed after reviewing climate projections through to 2090, the organisers said. The draft framework addresses hazards such as floods, landslides, storms, heatwaves and intense short-duration rainfall and sets out measures for integrating adaptation into the planning, design, construction and maintenance of highway systems. Officials emphasised that increasing frequency and intensity of these events undermines sustainability and operational reliability unless resilience is built.
The workshop gathered representatives from central ministries, state governments, disaster management authorities, highway agencies, technical institutions, academia and consortium partners to validate the proposed measures and the implementation framework. Participants were invited to provide expert feedback and recommendations prior to the finalisation of the policy and guidelines and their submission for adoption, with a focus on ensuring practicality, effectiveness and applicability for a safe, climate-resilient national highway network.